The Royals have won seven straight, are 14-5 in August and now have won five straight series. They are five games behind Baltimore for the second American League Wild Card spot pending the outcome of the Orioles-Astros game.
Kennedy threw eight shutout innings, giving up four hits while striking out six and walking none. He now has pitched six or more innings while giving up one run or fewer in five straight starts -- that ties a franchise record set by Larry Gura in 1981.
Left-hander Hector Santiago started for the Twins and was chased after 4 2/3 innings.