Olivo leads Royals past Twins, 14-6

MINNEAPOLIS — Miguel Olivo homered and drove in three runs, and the Kansas City Royals had their highest run total of the season in a 14-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Olivo and David DeJesus both had three hits for the Royals.

Joe Mauer had three hits and Orlando Cabrera extended his career-best hitting streak to 20 games for Minnesota, which has lost five of six and eight of 10.

Making his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Omaha, Kyle Davies (4-8) allowed one earned run and five hits in five innings, but got his second win in 11 starts since April 30. Davies, who threw 105 pitches, last won on June 13, against Cincinnati. He allowed a season-high eight runs and eight hits last Wednesday against Seattle.

Minnesota's Nick Blackburn (8-7) allowed six runs — four earned — and six hits in 1 2-3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. Blackburn, who allowed two earned runs in 6 1-3 innings last Wednesday in Cleveland, reverted to the form of his previous three outings when he allowed 17 earned runs in 15 1-3 innings. He is 0-3 with an 8.87 ERA in his last five starts.

A two-run triple by Olivo and ground-rule double by Alex Gordon highlighted a four-run first inning for Kansas City, which is averaging 6.88 runs in its last eight games.

A single by Mike Jacobs put the Royals up 6-1 in the second.

Much of the Twins' recent struggles can be attributed to poor starting pitching. Minnesota starters have an ERA of 4.95, ahead of only Cleveland and Baltimore in the American League. In 23 games since the All-Star break, Twins' starters have a 6.38 ERA.

Olivo homered off Brian Duensing in the third to make it 7-1. Duensing allowed three earned runs in 1 2-3 innings.

An RBI double by Gordon, and RBI triple by Yuniesky Betancourt made it 12-1 in the sixth.

Denard Span had a two-run double in Minnesota's three-run eighth.

NOTES: Carl Pavano, who pitched seven shutout innings in his Minnesota debut Saturday, is scheduled to start Thursday on his normal rest. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Pavano was away from the team for a few days "to get his family in order and everything" related to Friday's trade from Cleveland, and the Twins wanted to see how he felt upon his return. Scott Baker is scheduled to start Friday and Anthony Swarzak Saturday. ... Olivo's home run tied his career-high of 16 set in 2006 and 2007. ... Kansas City entered the game tied with Oakland and Texas for the lowest overall team batting average at .255.