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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Alex Gordon has been battling most of the season to raise his average above .200. Now he is the hottest hitter on the American Leagues hottest team.Gordon hit a grand slam, Dillon Gee pitched seven strong innings and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 8-1 on Thursday night.The Royals have won five straight and eight of nine to move above .500 for the first time since July 22. Royals starting pitchers have a 1.61 ERA in the five-game winning streak, allowing 23 hits and six earned runs in 33 2/3 innings, while striking out 27 and walking seven.Gordon, who was hitting .199 with 16 RBI on Aug. 9, extended his hitting streak to a season-best nine games, hiking his average to .219. Gordon has homered in three consecutive games.I was probably trying to do too much, trying to get out of a slump, which its hard not to do, Gordon said. Im just trying to stay with the basics and put together good at-bats and luckily its been happening a little bit more lately.Gee (5-6) picked up the Royals first victory from a No. 5 starter since May 31. The Royals are 9-21 is games started by the fifth starter.I felt like I was throwing everything pretty good tonight, Gee said. I had command of the off-speed stuff and the fastball command got better throughout the game. I just felt like a lot more free and easy. The curveball was good, the slider was good. It was just a good night.Gee, who is 3-6 in 10 starts, gave up a home run to Brian Dozier on his third pitch. It was Doziers 14th career leadoff homer and his 27th for the season. He has homered in five straight games against the Royals.That was the only run Gee would allow as he limited the Twins to four singles after the home run, walked one and struck out seven. Gees seven innings were a season high.He didnt throw too many heaters, Twins left fielder Robbie Grossman said. He really kept us off balance, threw his off-speed for strikes. That was a key for him.Twins right-hander Tyler Duffey (8-9) retired the first 10 hitters, but only one of the final seven batters he faced before being removed by manager Paul Molitor. After Cheslor Cuthberts single with one out in the third, Duffey walked three and hit a batter with Gordons third career grand slam punctuating the inning. Duffey was replaced by Michael Tonkin after 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs.I think I tried to adjust by being better, and ultimately being worse, Duffey said. Just kind of missing arm side with a fastball, then I end up yanking a curveball and then the one that Gordon hit out wasnt necessarily a good pitch to hit. It just went right into his swing path. And then, giving up a grand slam, thats what happens when you walk a guy and hit a guy. Thats a really good lineup. I gave them some chances and they took full advantage of it.The Royals added three runs in the eighth with Kendrys Morales and Eric Hosmer both driving in a run. The other run scored on a throwing error by center fielder Eddie Rosario.Cuthbert had three of the Royals seven hits, bringing his hit total to 100, which ranks second among AL rookies.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: LHP Jason Vargas, who has not pitched this season after Tommy John surgery in July 2015, made his third rehab start Wednesday, giving up three runs and four hits, including two home runs, in 2 1/3 innings for Northwest Arkansas against Corpus Christi. He threw 42 pitches, 27 for strikes, while striking out one and walking none.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Jose Berrios yielded six runs, eight hits and a walk in two innings in his previous start, a 15-7 loss to Houston.Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez is 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three 2016 starts against the Twins. 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Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. Torry Holt Womens Jersey . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. RENTON, Wash. -- Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls carried a football Tuesday for the first time since a broken ankle ended his rookie season last December.Rawls was limited to individual work in his first practice with Seattle since being activated from the physically unable to perform list on Sunday, but to Rawls it was a big step toward getting back to where he wants to be.I think it fit real good in the timeline. Just taking it day by day and getting better, Rawls said after practice. Just visualizing and getting my feet wet a little bit out there and Im so excited and glad to be out there with the fellas.Though he passed his physical and was eligible to practice Sunday, the rest of the team was having a mock game scrimmage which made it unfeasible for Rawls to begin his first work of camp then.Rawls suffered a broken ankle and ligament damage in a game against the Baltimore Ravens in December. After gaining 44 yards on six carries on Seattles opening possession, Rawls was engulfed by Brandon Williams and Chris Canty, who fell on him with his ankle caught underneath.The injury ended a stellar rookie campaign that made Rawls the clear choice to replace a retiring Marshawn Lynch. He rushed for 830 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games with seven starts in place of an injured Lynch. His 209-yard effort against the San Francisco 49ers was the second-most rushing yards in a game in franchise history, trailing only Shaun Alexanders 266 yards in 2001.In the last couple days weve seen him really take off in burst and hes worked so hard. Hes reeady to be out there, head coach Pete Carroll said.dddddddddddd We still just have to work him into it and wean him, but its really exciting to have him back.Carroll and general manager John Schneider have repeatedly said Rawls and tight end Jimmy Graham are expected to be ready for the Sept. 11 season opener against the Miami Dolphins. Carroll said Tuesday that Graham (knee) is close to being activated from the PUP list as well.Give us a couple of weeks. Theres plenty of time here. Well figure it out. Im sure (Rawls) is going to be chomping at the bit come by the last preseason game, at least, if not sooner, Carroll said.Rawls and three other running backs were unable to participate in Sundays mock game. Christine Michael sat out due to illness. Third-round pick C.J. Prosise and seventh-round pick Zac Brooks were sidelined with hamstring injuries.Michael returned to practice Tuesday, and Prosise and Brooks are both expected back within the next week.Despite his strong rookie campaign, Rawls isnt taking his early success for granted. He feels he has to win the job all over again.Were going to compete, Rawls said. I dont feel established. Im going to always be a hard worker. Ill always be a leader and Im going to always congratulate guys whenever guys go out there and do some of the amazing things that they do.---Online: AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '