Kansas City, Mo. ? A.J. Hinch was glad he didn’t know what kind of pitch he hit for a three-run homer.

“That means you’re just seeing the ball and reacting to the ball,” said Hinch, who tied a career high with four RBIs in Kansas City’s 8-1 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday night.

“It means you’re not thinking too much, and I can do that with the best of them. I can always over-think a situation and create a bigger hole than I’m in.”

Slumping Chuck Knoblauch also hit a home run and Jeff Suppan (4-4) allowed only one unearned run and nine hits in eight innings. Suppan struck out six and walked none, winning for the third time in four starts. The Royals had lost their seven previous home games against the Twins.

Knoblauch, hitting just .184 coming in, connected off Matt Kinney (1-3) for the 30th leadoff homer of his career. He also had an RBI single and scored in the fourth inning.

Kinney, in his 12th major league start, allowed five runs, seven hits and five walks in 32/3 innings.

“Our starting pitching just kind of set the tone for us tonight,” said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire. “It was just not a very good night for our pitching.”

After starting 0-6 under interim manager John Mizerock after Tony Muser was fired on April 29, the Royals have gone 5-2.

Hinch had an RBI single in the second inning and a three-run homer in the fifth off Bob Wells.

Doug Mientkiewicz’s sacrifice fly put Minnesota ahead in the first following a throwing error by Hinch, but Kansas City went ahead in the second on Neifi Perez’s two-out triple, Hinch’s single and Michael Tucker’s bases-loaded walk.

A terrific throw home from Carlos Beltran in center field kept the Twins from scoring in the fourth. With David Ortiz on second, Brian Buchanan singled to center. Beltran’s throw easily beat Ortiz to the plate.