Minneapolis, MN (My Sportsbook) - Jose Guillen hit a three-run homer in Kansas City's five-run seventh inning, as the Royals ruined Scott Baker's no- hit bid and beat the Twins, 7-5, in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Minnesota held a 4-0 lead going into the top of the seventh, and Baker (0-4) hadn't allowed a hit. But he unraveled in the frame and did not record an out before being pulled, as Guillen's homer and Alberto Callaspo's two-run double later in the inning gave the Royals the sudden lead.

The rally made a winner out of Gil Meche (2-2), who gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings. Joakim Soria allowed a run in the ninth, but retired the side for his sixth save of the season for Kansas City, which took the final two contests of this series and has won four of five overall.

Baker ended up allowing the five runs on five hits and a walk in six-plus innings for the Twins, who have dropped two in a row after a three-game win streak.

Michael Cuddyer went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in for Minnesota, while Justin Morneau had three hits, including a pair of doubles.

"I thought we played some very good defense today," Baker said.

Baker was nearly perfect through six innings, but had his no-hit bid ended by the first batter of the seventh, as Willie Bloomquist singled up the middle. The fans cheered for Baker's effort and the Twins starter went back to work, but he was suddenly ineffective.

Mark Teahen singled, and Guillen hammered a belt-high fastball to right-center for the three-run homer. With the outcome of the game up in the air, Baker remained in and allowed back-to-back singles to Mike Jacobs and David DeJesus.

"We're trying every way possible to jinx him," Bloomquist said of Baker. "Every inning about the [fourth or fifth] we're saying the guy's got a no- hitter going. But we kept not getting any hits...but the seventh, there, we finally got a hit across...and Jose came up with the big homer to get us off and rolling."

Baker was pulled for Luis Ayala, and Callaspo greeted him by hammering a ball to left to plate two runs. Callaspo was thrown out trying to reach third base, but his hit gave Kansas City a 5-4 advantage.

Ayala got out of the inning from there, but R.A. Dickey took over for Minnesota in the top of the eighth and got into trouble when Bloomquist smacked a ball to deep right-center field.

Twins center fielder Denard Span caught up to the ball, but it bounced off his glove and Bloomquist ended up on third. Guillen's double on a drive to left two batters later plated Bloomquist for a 6-4 edge.

The Royals tacked on another run in the ninth on Coco Crisp's sacrifice fly.

Kansas City's final two runs proved to be important during Minnesota's ninth- inning rally. Soria got the first two batters out, but committed a throwing error on Span's batted ball. Span raced to second on the play, then scored on a pinch-hit single from Joe Mauer. However, Soria got Morneau to ground out into the shift to end the game.

In the first, Morneau's RBI single put the Twins ahead, and they went up 2-0 on Cuddyer's run-scoring double in the fourth.

Minnesota scored two more runs in the sixth, which Morneau opened with a double to the left-center gap. Morneau tagged up to third on a fly out from Jason Kubel, then crossed home on Cuddyer's single.

Cuddyer stole second and went to third after the throw sailed into center field. Delmon Young followed with a single up the middle to make it a 4-0 game.

Game Notes

The five-run inning tied a season high for the Royals...Mauer was given the day off, but with the pinch-hit single improved to 7-for-10 this season. He missed the Twins' first 22 games because of lower back inflammation...Kansas City went 4-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left four runners on base...Bloomquist is batting .372 through 15 games this season, and extended his hitting streak to five games...The Twins finished a six-game homestand with a 3-3 mark...Minnesota on Sunday optioned catcher Jose Morales to Triple- A Rochester.