MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Finally, a little run support for Brad Radke.

He pitched a four-hitter for his first win since May 22, and the Minnesota Twins defeated the struggling Kansas City Royals 9-0.

"Nowadays when I get some runs I get a little nervous," joked Radke, who has nine no-decisions and a 3.42 ERA. "I was a bit more relaxed (tonight) than I have been."

"Good pitchers know what to do with runs," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He needed a win and he's deserved a lot of wins."

Radke (5-4), who has thrown at least six innings in his last 13 starts, has just five wins this year because the Twins have scored a total of 17 runs in his no-decisions.

As far as Matt Stairs is concerned, however, Radke still deserves to be in Houston next week.

"I've always thought he was a dominant pitcher," said Stairs, who went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. "He made us look stupid, every single one of us, one through nine."

Radke struck out four and walked none in Minnesota's first complete game since Radke beat the Chicago White Sox 5-2 last Sept. 11 with a nine-hitter.

Kansas City has lost six straight for the second time this year and, at 29-51 have the franchise's worst record after 80 games. The Royals have lost 11-of-12 games and have been outscored 87-30 in that span.

"We have been struggling lately and it showed," manager Tony Pena said. "We won't change things, we are not going to quit."

Jacque Jones and Nick Punto hit two-run homers for Minnesota, which has won three of four. Lew Ford went 3-for-4, and Joe Mauer had two doubles and two RBI.

Radke got 17 groundball outs in his 34th complete game and ninth shutout.

"It's fun to play defense around him because he has that flow and keeps the game going," said third baseman Corey Koskie, who had nine assists and two putouts.

"I didn't have anywhere to run," centerfielder Torii Hunter said.

Radke, who was 0-2 in seven starts since his May win over the White Sox, hit his first batter and allowed a single to his second, then retired 16 in a row.

Jimmy Gobble (4-6) allowed six runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Minnesota scored six runs on a season-high seven hits in the second inning.

Hunter led off with a single and Jones followed with his 14th homer for a 2-0 lead. Cristian Guzman, Ford and Koskie hit RBI singles in the inning and Mauer added a sacrifice fly.

Mauer's RBI double off Brian Anderson in the seventh made it 7-0. Punto hit his first homer of the season off Anderson in the eighth.

Game notes
Hunter toppled over first baseman Ken Harvey on a groundout in the seventh inning and was taken out of the game for precautionary reasons. Afterward he said he just had the wind knocked out of him and would be fine. ... Doug Mientkiewicz fouled a ball off his instep and was limping around the clubhouse after the game. Gardenhire said he would check out both players on Tuesday. ... The Royals have been shut out four times this season. ... In his last two starts against the Twins, Gobble is 0-2, allowing 12 runs in eight innings (13.50 ERA).