Minneapolis ? Officially eliminated from postseason contention a day earlier, the Kansas City Royals showed up and played like it really meant something.

Jimmy Gobble pitched a six-hitter for his first career complete game, Joe Randa went 4-for-5 with a homer, and the Royals beat the Minnesota Twins, 12-3, Sunday.

“A lot of guys here are trying to prove they belong in the big leagues, and for those guys it’s an opportunity,” Randa said. “For the veteran guys … a lot of us won’t be here next year, and there are scouts in the stands, so you’ve got to play the game.”

David DeJesus hit a two-run homer, and the top five batters in Kansas City’s lineup each had two RBIs. Gobble (7-8), thanks to a cut fastball pitching coach Mike Mason helped him develop earlier this week, retired 10 straight until surrendering two runs in the ninth.

“We hadn’t seen it before,” second baseman Michael Cuddyer said. “Give him credit.”

After going 5-1 on the homestand, Minnesota wasn’t exactly fretting about its first home loss in nine games against the Royals. The Twins lead Chicago by 81/2 games in the AL Central, and Kansas City is 281/2 back.

“We’re playing pretty good baseball,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Today was just a bad day.”

Making his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Aug. 29, Gobble didn’t give up a hit until the fourth. He recorded 18 groundball outs.

“It was my game, and I felt great,” said Gobble, who had a 9.95 earned-run average over 19 innings in four previous outings against the Twins this season. “I really gained from this experience.”

Kansas City's David DeJesus (9) celebrates with teammate John Buck after DeJesus hit a two-run home run against Minnesota. The Royals defeated the Twins, 12-3, Sunday in Minneapolis.

Twins starter Kyle Lohse (7-11) failed to finish the fourth in a rare poor performance against the Royals. Three of his seven wins have come against Kansas City — including a six-hit shutout on July 7.

But Lohse, whose struggles make the end of Minnesota’s rotation a concern for the playoffs, gave up seven hits and six runs, three earned, in 32/3 innings.

Things were fine until Lohse walked ninth-place hitter John Buck and allowed a two-run shot to DeJesus.

The Royals, who were in first place as late as Aug. 30 last season, have fallen well short of high spring expectations. But manager Tony Pena clearly is not going to let them quit.

“We haven’t had a lot to be excited about this year,” Randa said. “Today we just fed off each other.”