Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Michael Cuddyer went 3-for-6 and had two runs batted in, including the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning to push the Minnesota Twins past the Kansas City Royals, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game set.

Justin Morneau and Alexi Casilla each recorded three hits for the Twins, who have won two in a row and three of four overall. Brendan Harris went 2-for-4 and had the lone extra-base hit for Minnesota and scored a run.

Nick Blackburn was unbelievable through eight innings, but after retiring the first batter in the ninth, he started to come undone. His line ended at two runs on eight hits in 8 1/3 innings of work. Jesse Crain (2-2) earned the win with a scoreless 11th, and Matt Guerrier got his first save of the year with a scoreless 12th.

Mark Teahen went 2-for-5 with a three-run, inside-the-park home run for the Royals, who have dropped nine in a row. Miguel Olivo went 3-for-5 and scored a run in defeat. David DeJesus had two singles.

Brian Bannister started for K.C. and went five innings, giving up three runs on seven hits in the no-decision. Leo Nunez (3-1) took the loss after he gave up a run on two hits and two walks in the 12th.

Nunez was on the hill for the Royals in the 12th and gave up a one-out walk to Joe Mauer. Morneau made it second and third with a double, and Cuddyer's single brought Mauer home. The Twins held a 4-3 lead after 11 1/2 frames.

Guerrier toed the rubber to try and close it out for the Twins and got Alberto Callaspo to fly out. Pinch-hitter Billy Butler finagled a single, but DeJesus went down looking, and Joey Gathright grounded out to make it official.

The Twins jumped on top 2-0 in the fourth inning. After Casilla singled, Mauer grounded into a force out. Morneau then made it first and second with a walk before Cuddyer singled to score Mauer and leave runners on the corners. Jason Kubel kept it going with a ground out that plated Morneau.

Minnesota tacked one on in the fifth. Harris hit a one-out single to center and Carlos Gomez followed with another single to make it first and second. Casilla then clubbed an RBI single that scored Harris.

The 3-0 lead held until the ninth, when Alex Gordon was hit by a pitch to lead-off the bottom of the frame. Jose Guillen then flied out to right for the first out. Olivo followed with a single that made it first and second, bringing the tying run to the plate and chasing Blackburn in favor of Joe Nathan.

Teahen crushed the first pitch he saw from Nathan down the left field line. Delmon Young dove for the catch, but missed it, and the ball rolled all the way to the wall, allowing Teahen to record a three-run, game-tying, inside- the-park home run.