Salvador Perez had a career-high five hits, including a double, a triple and an RBI, to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 10-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.
Paulo Orlando added three hits and two RBIs in the rain-delayed game for the Royals, who put All-Star outfielder Alex Gordon on the disabled list on Monday with a fractured right wrist.
Ricky Nolasco (1-3) gave up six runs on eight hits and struck out three in 2 2/3 innings for the Twins (11-33), who have the worst record in the majors.
Peter Moylan (1-0) picked up the win in relief of Ian Kennedy, who gave up two runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings of a start that had to be cut short thanks to the 41-minute rain delay in the third inning.
The Royals pounded out 17 hits, including two from Lorenzo Cain, who gutted out the whole game after fouling a ball off his left knee.
Joe Mauer had three hits, including a solo home run in the first inning for the Twins.
Dozier got night off
Manager Paul Molitor gave slumping veteran Brian Dozier the night off, the latest in a series of moves by him aimed at igniting the Twins’ stagnant offense. They put two on the board in the first inning, but Nolasco gave it right back.
The Royals tied the game in the second and put four on the board in the third, with a two-run single from Jarrod Dyson putting them up 6-2.
Nolasco failed to pitch three full innings for the fourth time in his 44 starts for the Twins.