MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Twins fell flat again. Now, they need help to win the AL Central.

Ryan Shealy blooped a two-run single to give Kansas City the lead in the seventh inning, and the surging Royals handed the suddenly sputtering Twins a second straight defeat, 4-2 on Saturday.

The Twins led Chicago by a half-game when play began, but thanks to a bunch of missed chances by the batters and a letdown by the bullpen they faced another white-knuckle night keeping tabs on the White Sox.

The loss was Minnesota’s 74th of the season, one more than Chicago had going its game Saturday night. So if the White Sox win out, they win the division title.

Gil Meche (14-11) pitched into the seventh, getting two innings to end on double plays. The Twins left 11 runners on base and grounded into two more against Royals relievers.

After leaving the bases loaded by getting the last two outs of the sixth, reliever Matt Guerrier (6-9) gave up consecutive singles to start the seventh and Shealy’s bloop over a diving Justin Morneau’s head down the first-base line drove in two.

to make it 4-2 Royals.

Mariners 7, Athletics 3

SEATTLE – Kenji Johjima hit a three-run homer during a six-run first inning, and Seattle beat Oakland.

Ryan Rowland-Smith (5-3) gave up three runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings for the Mariners. Sean Green allowed one hit over the final 2 1-3 innings for his first career save.

The Mariners loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning. After Oakland starter Greg Smith walked in a run, Wladimir Balentien doubled to left-center field to score two runs. Johjima followed with his drive over the left-field wall to make it 6-0.

Smith (7-16) didn’t allow another hit after the first until Yuniesky Betancourt doubled in the fifth. Smith allowed five hits in seven innings.