Pinch-hitter Miguel Sano homered with two outs in the 12th inning, and the Minnesota Twins beat the AL Central-leading Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Sano was stuck in an 0-for-14 slump that included 11 strikeouts when he stepped to the plate against Franklin Morales (3-2), the Royals’ sixth reliever of the night. Sano worked a full count before sending a soaring shot over the bullpen in left field.

Blaine Boyer (3-4) pitched 1 2-3 innings of relief for Minnesota, and Kevin Jepsen got three outs for his 12th save while Glen Perkins sat out again with a back injury.

Perkins received a second cortisone shot Wednesday and was still unavailable.