Royals 7, Twins 2: Billy Butler had two hits and two RBIs and James Shields pitched six solid innings as visiting Kansas City won its ninth consecutive game.

Justin Maxwell had an RBI single in his Royals debut and Lorenzo Cain scored twice and made a highlight-reel catch to prevent a two-run homer as Kansas City completed the three-game sweep. The Royals matched their longest winning streak since opening the 2003 season with nine straight victories and remained 4 1/2 games behind Cleveland for the American League's second wild card slot.

Shields (6-7) walked a season high-tying five, but he limited the damage to two runs over six innings to improve to 4-1 in his last seven starts. Maxwell, acquired from Houston on Wednesday, hit the first pitch he saw as a Royal for an RBI single in a two-run first and Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer had sacrifice flies as Kansas City swept a series in Minnesota for the first time since May 1999.

Justin Morneau homered in the third inning to pull the Twins within 3-2, but the Royals added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings on groundouts from Alcides Escobar and Miguel Tejada, although they had a chance to break the game open by loading the bases in each frame against Scott Diamond (5-10).

Cain, returning to the lineup after a three-game absence, preserved the three-run lead with a spectacular leaping catch above the center-field wall to rob Trevor Plouffe of a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth. Butler broke the game open in the sixth with a two-run single off reliever Anthony Swarzak.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Diamond was charged with seven runs - six earned - on nine hits over five innings to fall to 0-4 over his last seven outings. ... The Royals placed 2B Chris Getz on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 28, to open a roster spot for Maxwell. ... Kansas City continues its nine-game road trip Friday with three games at the New York Mets while Minnesota hosts Houston for a three-game set.