Kansas City, Mo. ? Johan Santana found the perfect cure for his slow start: the Kansas City Royals.

Santana struck out 10 in eight innings to get his first victory of the season, leading the Minnesota Twins over the Royals, 7-3, on Thursday.

In his last seven starts against Kansas City, Santana is 6-0 with a 1.50 earned-run average. The 2004 Cy Young winner has recorded 115 strikeouts against the Royals in his six-plus seasons, more than any other major-league team.

“I felt pretty good today,” said Santana (1-3), who never had started 0-3 before. “I was throwing the fastball in and out of the plate, and I was able to throw my changeup. It was a nice day.”

The Royals, who committed three errors, said Santana’s changeup was particularly baffling.

“I was throwing it the whole time,” he said. “I knew it was there, so I was using it the whole time.”

The Twins opened up a 5-0 lead in the second inning, and the Royals quickly were in trouble against a pitcher they haven’t beaten in almost two years. He allowed seven hits and three runs with one walk.

The only Kansas City starter who did not strike out at least once was Mark Grudzielanek. In one stretch in the fifth and sixth innings, Santana fanned four straight.

“He looked pretty solid,” Royals catcher John Buck said. “I faced him last year and he looks just as good.”

Angel Berroa homered in the second for Kansas City. It was the Royals’ seventh earned run against Santana in his last seven starts and 471â3 innings against them.

Tiring in the eighth, he gave up a double to Mark Teahen and RBI singles to Tony Graffanino and Shane Costa.

Minnesota Twins starter Johan Santana delivers during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Thursday, April 27, 2006 in Kansas City, Mo.

“We just weren’t able to do anything mainly because he was pitching so well,” Royals manager Buddy Bell said. “His fastball and his changeup. The biggest part of the day was the five runs early. When you’re facing a guy like that, it’s a tough situation.”

Shannon Stewart, Luis Castillo and Michael Cuddyer each had three hits. Cuddyer also hit his third home run.

Mark Redman (0-1) lasted 12â3 innings in his third start since beginning the season on the disabled list because of a knee injury. He was charged with five runs and six hits, with three walks and no strikeouts.

“It was his third start, and it wasn’t very good today,” Bell said. “But for the most part, since we got him back he’s been pretty good.”

In losing two of three to the Twins, the Royals managed only seven runs. In their last eight series against their AL Central rivals, the Twins have won six and tied two.

“That’s a very aggressive-swinging team over there,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “They’re like our ballclub. Today, Santana was aggressive, and he threw the ball great. He was attacking the hitters pretty good.”