The Royals have won three straight games by one run for the first time since August 2012 and opened up an 11.5 game lead in the AL Central over the Twins after their 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Kendrys Morales hit a two-run homer that put Kansas City ahead 3-0 in the first.
Tied 4-4 in the eighth, Alex Rios singled with one out off Jeff Petricka (3-3) and Paulo Orlando (just called up for Sunday’s game) followed with a ground-rule double. Omar Infante hit a grounder to first baseman Jose Abreu, and Rios slid home ahead of the tag.
GM Dayton Moore hit it big with the signing of Ryan Madson. He struck out two in the night to complete the sweep. With Wade Davis sitting with a bad back and Greg Holland needing a day off after two straight saves, Ned Yost turned to a guy who closed 32 games in 2011 in Philly.
“We feel we have four guys that can close,” Yost said.