Kansas City, MO (Best E Casino) - Kevin Slowey was one out shy of a shutout, and Carlos Gomez had four hits and two runs batted in for Minnesota, which completed a three-game sweep of the dismal Kansas City Royals with a 5-1 win.

Slowey (2-4) picked up his first career complete game, but allowed one run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to tarnish his gem. Still, he scattered six hits, fanned six and walked none.

Alexi Casilla went 3-for-4 with a double and Joe Mauer had two hits and an RBI for the Twins, who have won four in a row.

The Royals, meanwhile, saw their season-high losing streak reach 11 games. Alex Gordon doubled and had the club's sole RBI, while Luke Hochevar (3-5) allowed five runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 frames.

Armed with a five-run lead, Slowey worked perfect sixth, seventh and eighth innings. He got Mike Aviles to pop out to begin the ninth, but gave up a double to David DeJesus.

After a Joey Gathright ground out, Slowey got behind the count to Gordon and gave up another double that plated DeJesus. However, Slowey got Jose Guillen to fly out to end the game.

"I was a little upset that he put such a good swing on it because I didn't feel it was a terrible pitch," Slowey said of Gordon. "He's a great hitter. He'll be a great hitter for decades here."

Said DeJesus of the loss and the Royals' losing streak:

"We're doing a good job because, easily, everyone could go separate ways and just have turmoil all over. It seems like we're on the right path. We've just got to get a win."

The pitchers were sharp early, as each allowed only two baserunners in three scoreless innings. But the Twins cracked the scoreboard in the fourth. Casilla hit a lead-off double and went to third on a Mauer base hit. Justin Morneau then hit a ball to first, and Ross Gload went to home for the play and nailed Casilla there.

But Michael Cuddyer's single to left got Mauer home and put Minnesota up a run.

Mauer then drove in a run in the fifth with a double that plated Gomez.

The Twins, though, took a more commanding lead in the next frame and chased Hochevar in the process. Jason Kubel, Craig Monroe and Mike Lamb led off with three consecutive base hits to load the bases, with Lamb's being a bunt hit.

Brendan Harris lofted a sacrifice fly to right to get one run home, at which point Ron Mahay came in for Hochevar.

Gomez greeted the new pitcher with a single to center, and Monroe and Lamb scored to make it a 5-0 contest.

Game Notes

On Thursday, the Royals placed pitcher Leo Nunez on the 15-day disabled list and recalled pitcher Neal Musser. They also optioned infielder Billy Butler to Triple-A Omaha, and purchased the contract of Aviles, who went 0-for-3 in Thursday's game...Kansas City stranded three baserunners, while Minnesota left 10 on base...The Twins converted two double plays...Slowey threw 101 pitches, 74 for strikes.