Kansas City, Mo. ? Mark Redman has turned his season around.

The left-hander pitched seven sharp innings to win his fifth straight start, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-0, Sunday for their sixth victory in seven games.

Redman, who began the year 0-4 in his first seven starts, is 5-0 with a 3.74 earned-run average since coming off the bereavement list after his father had successful heart surgery.

He is the first Kansas City pitcher to win five consecutive starts since Darrell May from June 27 to July 19, 2003. Redman’s five wins in June match his victory total last season with Pittsburgh.

“I missed spring training,” said Redman, who had surgery on his left knee in March. “I don’t think the knee is an issue, just the fact I threw only two innings in spring training. I got a late start and came back quick from my surgery and back in the big leagues after just two rehab starts.

“In April, I was still getting my feet wet, it was like it was my spring training,” he said. “In May, I was just trying to find my arm slot, comfort level and a good release point. Here in June, you’ve got some innings under your belt and getting on a good roll and just roll with it.”

Redman (5-4) gave up six hits, walked two and struck out one.

Royals starter Mark Redman acknowledges the crowd in the eighth inning of K.C.'s 6-0 victory over Milwaukee. The Royals won Sunday in Kansas City, Mo.

“That’s the way I pitch a lot – to contact, try to make them hit my pitch and keep the ball down,” Redman said. “As the game went on, I got a lot more groundballs than fly balls. That’s a key. I never go for strikeouts.”

Doug Mientkiewicz went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Tony Graffanino drove in two runs and scored twice.

“We’re starting to see a little steamroll effect,” Mientkiewicz said after the Royals won for the eighth time in 11 games. “The bottom line is our pitching has been better.”

Redman, who improved to 6-2 with a 2.49 ERA in eight career starts against the Brewers, was replaced by Joel Peralta after giving up a double to Rickie Weeks leading off the eighth.

“There are two losses in there,” Redman said. “They got my number a couple of times. I’ve pitched a good ballgame a couple of times against them. They are a lot different team in the past when I got of lot of those wins. They are a solid baseball team. You definitely have to make your pitches on them.”

Jimmy Gobble got four outs for his first career save, striking out two.

“I didn’t realize it was a save until later,” said Gobble, who got the game ball. “I’m not a closer, not even close.”

Brewers right-hander Rick Helling, making his second start of the season after spending two months on the disabled list with a sprained right elbow, was pulled after 63 pitches and three innings. He allowed one run, three hits and three walks.

“He was just laboring from the first pitch on,” Brewers manager Ned Yost said. “He was pitching with a lot of heart. When he got up to 60 pitches in three innings, the way Redman is on us, I didn’t want to take a chance they’d throw two or three quick runs on us.”

Yost said he is “probably going to move” Helling back to long relief and insert Carlos Villanueva into the rotation.

“I threw a lot of pitches for three innings, but I’ve thrown a lot of games where I’ve thrown a lot of pitches early and I always want to stay in,” Helling said. “The manager and pitching coach make the decision when I come out. I’ve got no problem with that.”

As far as going to the bullpen, Helling said, “I’ll do whatever they want me to do.”

David DeJesus led off the third with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Mientkiewicz’s sacrifice fly for the only run off Helling (0-2).

The Royals scored another run in the fifth off Villanueva. Joey Gathright opened the inning with a walk, went to third on DeJesus’ single and scored on Graffanino’s grounder.

That gave Redman a cushion.

“It is easy to pitch when things are going your way,” he said. “You have a confidence level and just go out and try to repeat it each five days. June typically is a pretty good month for me.”

Mientkiewicz doubled in the seventh off Brian Shouse to score Graffanino, who walked.

The Royals added three more runs in the eighth. Mientkiewicz, Graffanino and Matt Stairs each drove in one.

The Brewers got only one runner to third base in the first seven innings. Corey Koskie doubled with one out and went to third on Brady Clark’s infield single. Redman got out of that jam by retiring Chad Moeller on a fly to center.

Notes: Brewers SS Bill Hall, who left Saturday’s game with an upset stomach, did not start. … Mientkiewicz made a diving stop of Prince Fielder’s hard smash down the first-base line to rob him of a hit in the fourth. … The Brewers dropped to 12-22 on the road.