Kansas City’s Billy Butler celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning. The Royals beat the Twins, 11-2, on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City, Mo. ? Leading by one in the eighth inning, the Kansas City Royals got an insurance run and then kept adding on.

Alex Gordon hit a three-run homer in Kansas City’s eight-run inning, and rookie right-hander Nate Adcock picked up his first major-league victory as the Royals beat the Minnesota Twins, 11-2, Saturday night.

The Royals sent 12 men to the plate in the eighth and scored all eight runs after two outs. Six runs were unearned after an error by Twins first baseman Justin Morneau.

“The floodgates opened up for us,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “When we got a two-run lead, I felt really good knowing we had (closer Joakim) Soria down there. But it just kept piling on, piling on.”

Soria warmed up early in the inning but sat down when Gordon homered to make it 10-2.

“Gordo’s been great all year long,” Yost said.

The inning also included Chris Getz’s run-scoring infield single, Mike Aviles’ bases-loaded walk and Jeff Francoeur’s RBI double. Morneau’s fielding miscue permitted two runs to score.

The eight-run inning was the Royals’ largest since June 14, 2007, when they scored eight in the second inning against St. Louis.

“You’d rather go into the ninth inning more than a one-run lead, that’s for sure,” Getz said.

Adcock (1-0), a Rule 5 pick from the Pittsburgh Pirates who had never pitched above Class A ball before this season, worked a scoreless seventh to claim the victory.

“It’s very exciting,” Adcock said. “I got a lot of high fives. It’s a good feeling.”

Left-hander Brian Duensing (2-1) took the loss, giving up three runs, two earned, and eight hits in seven innings, while striking out six and walking two. The Twins have lost five straight.

Getz led off the seventh with a line drive to left that Rene Tosconi attempted to make a diving catch, but the ball got past him and rolled to the fence. Getz wound up at third, only his third extra-base hit of the season. He scored on Aviles’ sacrifice fly to put the Royals ahead, 3-2.

“When I hit it, I was hoping it would drop and was thinking single,” Getz said. “When it got past him, I was off to the races.”

The Twins, who have scored an American League-low 82 runs, failed to take advantage of seven walks issued by Royals starter Sean O’Sullivan, who had not pitched since April 21. Jason Kubel had two of Minnesota’s three hits.

“A little bit of it was definitely rust and I spent most of last night bent over the toilet — I think it was a little food virus — so I was a little jelly leg out there,” O’Sullivan said. “I felt like I made some pitches when I had to. I didn’t want to give into guys when I got behind. That was the definition of being effectively wild.”