Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco and Jose Miranda homered as the Minnesota Twins stayed hot at the plate with an 8-6 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

Kansas City loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning, but Jorge López struck out Nick Pratto on a full-count pitch for his second save.

Salvador Perez had three hits, including a home run, and two RBIs for the Royals. Pratto added three singles and two RBIs, and Edward Olivares doubled twice, tripled and scored three runs.

The Twins have scored 33 runs in their last five games after starting the season in an offensive slump. The three homers gave Minnesota 36 on the season, second-most in the American League behind the Rays.

After the first pitch was delayed two hours by rain, Royals starter Jordan Lyles (0-5) gave up seven runs in four innings.

Minnesota right-hander Pablo López (2-2) struggled for the second straight outing but still pitched into the seventh for the third time in six starts this year. He allowed six earned runs while striking out seven.

Polanco’s second homer of the year, a three-run shot to right field, put the Twins on top 7-2 in the fourth.

Miranda’s drive gave the Twins an 8-2 lead, but the Royals wouldn’t go down quietly. In the sixth, Perez hit a long homer into the bullpen. Olivares then hit a two-out triple and scored on a single by Pratto.

Kansas City added two more runs in the seventh, keyed by Perez’s RBI single.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the eighth. He objected to a called third strike by umpire Jerry Layne with Michael Massey at the plate as the potential go-ahead run.

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Royals: RHP Brad Keller (2-2, 3.96 ERA) faces Minnesota on Saturday afternoon.