Rookie Mike Moustakas belted a solo homer to highlight a four-run sixth inning as the Kansas City Royals pushed the Minnesota Twins to the brink of a 100-loss season with a 7-3 road triumph Monday.

Rookie Salvador Perez drove in a pair of runs, and Billy Butler and Alcides Escobar had RBI hits for Kansas City, which has won 11 of its last 14 games.

Conversely, Minnesota (61-99) has dropped 20 of its last 23 and must win its final two contests of the season to avoid its first 100-loss campaign since 1982.

After the Royals scratched for a pair of runs in the sixth, Moustakas deposited an offering from Kevin Slowey (0-8) over the wall in right field for his fifth homer of the season and fourth in 11 games.

The offense proved to be enough for Felipe Paulino (4-10), who allowed three runs on six hits and struck out nine in six innings.

Michael Cuddyer belted a two-run homer, and rookie Rene Tosoni added an RBI single for Minnesota.