MINNEPOLIS – Brad Radke pitched a four-hitter for his first win since May 22, and the Minnesota Twins defeated the struggling Kansas City Royals 9-0 Monday night.

Kansas City has lost six straight for the second time this year and, at 29-51 have the franchise’s worst record after 80 games.

Jacque Jones and Nick Punto hit two-run homers for Minnesota, which has won three of four. Lew Ford went 3-for-4, and Joe Mauer had two doubles and two RBIs.

Radke (5-4) struck out four and walked none in Minnesota’s first complete game since Radke beat the Chicago White Sox 5-2 last Sept. 11 with nine-hitter. It was his 34th complete game and ninth shutout.

Radke, who had been 0-2 in seven starts since his May win over the White Sox, hit his first batter and allowed a single to his second, then retired 16 in a row.

Jimmy Gobble (4-6) allowed six runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings, dropping to 0-2 with an 8.05 ERA in four starts against the Twins this season.

Minnesota batted around in the second inning, scoring six runs on a season-high seven hits.

Torii Hunter led off with a single and Jones followed with his 14th homer for a 2-0 lead. Cristian Guzman, Ford and Corey Koskie hit RBI singles in the inning and Mauer added a sacrifice fly.

Mauer’s RBI double off Brian Anderson in the seventh made it 7-0. Punto hit his first homer of the season off Anderson in the eighth.

Notes: Monday was Armed Forces Appreciation Day at the Metrodome and the first 5,000 fans 14 and under received a Twins G.I. Joe Action figure. In a pregame ceremony, the Twins paid tribute to soldiers from the region who have died in the past year. … The six-run second tied Minnesota’s season high for runs in an inning. … Koskie had nine assists and two putouts at third base. … Mike Sweeney missed his fourth straight game with a stiff back. … Kansas City CF David DeJesus was back in the lineup after missing two games with a bruised left thumb. … The Royals were 30-50 after 80 games in 1970.

AP-ES-07-05-04 2234EDT