Santana fans 10 for Twins

Johan Santana struck out 10 in eight innings to get his first victory in the slowest start of his career, leading the Minnesota Twins over the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Thursday.

The Twins opened up a 5-0 lead in the second inning and Santana (1-3) cruised to his sixth straight decision over the Royals, who haven?t beaten the left-hander in almost two years. Santana, who had never started 0-3 before, 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.

Angel Berroa homered in the second for Kansas City. It was the Royals? seventh earned run against the 2004 Cy Young winner in his last seven starts and 47 1-3 innings against them.

Mark Redman (0-1) lasted 1 2-3 innings in his third start since beginning the season on the disabled list with a knee injury. He was charged with five runs and six hits, with three walks and no strikeouts.

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.

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

Berroa?s homer was the Royals? first in seven games. With 11 for the year, they still have fewer than any other team in the majors.

? PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? Garrett Atkins hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to help the Colorado Rockies beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 on Thursday.

Aaron Cook pitched seven strong innings and Brad Hawpe went 3-for-5 with a solo homer for Colorado, which improved to 7-3 on the road.

Pat Burrell had a two-run single for the Phillies, who fell to 5-10 at home.

Cook (2-3) allowed three runs ? two earned ? and six hits. Ray King and Jose Mesa combined for a scoreless eighth and Brian Fuentes finished for his fourth save, extending his franchise record to 22 straight.

Matt Holliday started the eighth inning with a single off Ryan Franklin (1-2). Atkins then hit a 1-2 pitch off the brick batter?s eye beyond the center-field wall for his third homer, giving Colorado a 5-3 lead. Atkins also had an RBI single in the ninth.