Kansas City, Mo. ? The Kansas City Royals found an opponent to play as bad as them.

Emil Brown singled home Denny Hocking with one out in the ninth to lead Kansas City to a 1-0 victory Wednesday over the Minnesota Twins, who set a team record by getting 13 hits in a shutout.

It also was the most hits the Royals allowed without giving up a run.

“That’s something we do – 13 hits and not score,” Kansas City outfielder Terrence Long said.

The Twins’ previous record for hits in a shutout was 12 in a 1-0 loss to the California Angels in 1975. The Royals shut out opponents on 10 hits four times.

Minnesota had runners at second and third with one out in the ninth, but pinch runner Brent Abernathy was thrown out at third after Mike MacDougal’s pitch to Michael Ryan sailed to the backstop. Abernathy started to come home, then changed his mind and tried to get back to third, but catcher Paul Phillips’ throw beat him.

“If he knew it was going to bounce right back to the catcher, he’d have a crystal ball,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “They threw a ball away, and it still worked out for them today.”

Ryan then took a called third strike. It was the second straight game every Twins starter hit safely.

“When you have 13 hits and you’ve got no runs, there’s not many explanations for it,” Gardenhire said. “We were all over the basepaths. They even throw a wild pitch, and it bounces right back to the catcher.

“I’ve seen some of the things they’ve had to endure, and I’m sure they feel they finally got a good break, and they did.”

Hocking singled off Matt Guerrier (0-3) leading off the ninth and reached second when third baseman Terry Tiffee misplayed a grounder by Chip Ambres. Terry Mulholland relieved and struck out Matt Stairs, before Brown grounded a single just inside the bag at third.

MacDougal (3-4) pitched the ninth for the victory, and the Royals, who had a 19-game losing streak earlier this month, ended a five-game skid.

“This one’s tough,” said outfielder Jacque Jones, who was involved in three double plays. “I take a lot of blame.”

The Twins’ play was reminiscent of the way the Royals have stumbled around all season while compiling a major-league-worst 43-88 record. Their five victories in August were one better than the team-record low for any month.

“I’ve been here three months, and I’ve seen just about everything I needed to see,” said Royals manager Buddy Bell.

Royals starter Mike Wood gave up eight hits and two walks in six innings, but kept the Twins scoreless with the help of double plays in the first, second and fourth.

With runners at first and second and one out in the fourth, Tiffee grounded to first baseman Joe McEwing. He threw to second for the force out there, but the throw back to first to get Tiffee was late. Jones, who had singled leading off the inning, tried to score from second but was cut thrown out at home by Wood, who had covered first.