Royals 2, Twins 1: Alex Gordon belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as host Kansas City posted a dramatic victory in the opener of the three-game series between division rivals.

Alcides Escobar led off the ninth against Glen Perkins (3-1) with a single and Gordon deposited an 0-1 pitch over the wall in right-center field as the Royals halted their two-game skid. Wade Davis (7-2) worked a perfect top of the ninth and Gordon finished with two of the five hits by Kansas City, which maintained its 1 1/2-game lead over second-place Detroit in the American League Central.

Joe Mauer drove in the lone run for the Twins, who have lost three straight following a three-game winning streak. Ricky Nolasco settled for a no-decision after scattering three hits and striking out six over seven scoreless innings, while counterpart Danny Duffy yielded just one run and four hits in 6 2/3 frames.

Kansas City stranded a runner at third in the second inning while Minnesota didn't record its first hit until Danny Santana led off the fourth with a single before being picked off as Nolasco and Duffy were locked into a terrific pitching duel. The Twins put a runner in scoring position in the sixth without cashing in before finally breaking the scoreless tie a frame later.

Brian Dozier led off the seventh with a double and Mauer followed with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. He advanced to third on a pair of groundouts before Kelvin Herrera relieved Duffy and struck out Trevor Plouffe, and the Royals were kept in check until victimizing Perkins in the ninth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Royals haven't lost three in a row since beginning the second half of the season with a four-game slide. ... Kansas City improved to 1-1 on its 10-game homestand, while Minnesota kicked off a seven-game road trip. ... Duffy has allowed fewer than two earned runs in seven of his last nine starts but is just 3-3 in that span.