MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Alcides Escobar tied a career high with four RBIs on two doubles and Salvador Perez homered to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.

Danny Duffy (5-7) gave up one run and four hits in 5 2-3 innings and Mike Moustakas had two hits for the Royals. Kansas City (43-39) has won three of four and is off to its best start since 2003.

Yohan Pino (0-2) gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings for the Twins. Eduardo Nunez had two hits and an RBI in his return from the disabled list for Minnesota, which has lost six of its last seven games to drop into last place in the AL Central.

The Royals entered the night 3 1/2 games behind Detroit in the division and 1 1/2 games out of the AL wild card.