MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau each went deep and drove in eight runs between them, as the Minnesota Twins heaped four home runs on their usual small-ball approach to beat the Texas Rangers 14-2 on Saturday night.
Lost in the shuffle of a 16-hit barrage by the home team was another win for Livan Hernandez (10-6), who was flawless for seven innings and matched his season low of five hits allowed. Minnesota is 14-7 when he starts, despite an ERA he reduced to 5.29.
Delmon Young hit a solo shot, too, to start a six-run sixth inning that ruined Rangers starter Matt Harrison’s already-deteriorating night. Right after Mauer’s two-run double against reliever Dustin Nippert, Morneau — the reigning All-Star Home Run Derby champ — crushed a 1-1 pitch into the seat stacks above right field for his 15th homer and a 12-2 advantage for the surging Twins.
Brian Buscher added a two-run home run in the seventh to push the lead to a dozen and give Minnesota a 23-7 record since mid-June, but the hits came in all shapes and sizes.
Morneau also hit a three-run double and now has 73 RBIs. Young had three hits and two RBIs to raise his average above .300. Carlos Gomez doubled twice, once by sneaking into second when Texas left fielder David Murphy lazily returned his chopper to the infield. Even backup catcher Mike Redmond, who relieved Mauer for the last two innings, contributed a bouncing single over the mound after a 14-pitch at-bat in the eighth.
Harrison (1-1) threw 84 pitches and didn’t get any outs in the sixth. He was tagged for nine hits, eight runs and three walks without a strikeout. After winning his major league debut with seven innings and only five hits and two runs on July 8, Harrison has been hit hard in his last two starts.
Perhaps Vicente Padilla can put the Texas rotation back in a better place. He was scheduled to be activated from the 15-day disabled list and pitch on Sunday afternoon.
Hernandez’s performance down the stretch will be scrutinized, with Francisco Liriano waiting impatiently in upstate New York. The prized left-hander’s comeback from elbow surgery is essentially complete, and Liriano’s agent asked the union to make sure Minnesota is not keeping him in the minors to save money. Liriano is 7-0 with a 2.73 ERA over his last nine starts for Triple-A Rochester.
None of the four young guys in the rotation have shown any vulnerability lately, so Hernandez and his majors-most 178 hits allowed — in less than 128 innings — could make sense to trade. The Twins love his wisdom and leadership of the inexperienced staff, though, and have offered no hint that his place is insecure.
The wily old Cuban showed why on Saturday, retiring 12 straight batters on the highest-scoring team in the majors after Chris Davis hit a two-out, two-strike, two-run homer in the second inning to give the Rangers a brief 2-1 lead.
Notes: Manager Ron Washington said he plans to wait until at least Monday to use All-Star DH Milton Bradley in the outfield. Bradley’s time in the field has been limited this season in his recovery from knee surgery.
Marlins 9, Phillies 5
MIAMI (AP) — Rookie catcher John Baker drove in four runs Saturday and hit one of three homers for the Florida Marlins, who tightened the race in the NL East by beating the Philadelphia Phillies 9-5.
Dan Uggla added a two-run homer, his 24th, and Jeremy Hermida hit his 11th. The Marlins lead the majors with 138 home runs.
Brewers 8, Giants 5
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Rickie Weeks hit a two-run double to cap a four-run sixth inning, Prince Fielder homered and the Brewers remained unbeaten against the Giants.
Ryan Braun missed hitting for the cycle by a home run for Milwaukee, which had had nine extra-base hits while winning its third straight.
Nationals 8, Braves 2
ATLANTA (AP) — Willie Harris, a part-time starter for Atlanta last season, had three hits, two RBIs, a stolen base and scored three runs in the Nationals’ win over the Braves.
Harris made a diving catch of a line drive by Gregor Blanco in center field to end the game and has five hits in the first two games of the series.
Cardinals 6, Padres 5
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols had three hits and four RBIs, helping the Cardinals rally from five runs down to beat San Diego for their fourth straight win.
Todd Wellemeyer (8-4) allowed one hit in his last 4 1-3 innings after surrendering five runs on four hits in the first two frames and Ryan Franklin worked the last two innings for his 14th save in 18 chances.
Astros 4, Cubs 1
HOUSTON (AP) — Wandy Rodriguez struck out seven, and the Houston Astros again stifled the Cubs’ offense.
Rodriguez (5-3) allowed nine hits, including a solo homer by Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano, but Chicago stranded seven runners and dropped its third straight game.
Angels 4, Red Sox 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Pinch-hitter Erick Aybar hit a bases-clearing triple to highlight a four-run seventh, and the Angels rallied for a 4-2 victory over the defending World Series champions Saturday. Los Angeles pinch hitters were just 6-for-38 with five RBIs this season before Aybar’s clutch hit.
The Angels, going for their fourth AL West title in five years, won their fourth straight game including an 11-3 triumph over the Red Sox on Friday night to move a season-high 21 games over .500 and extend their division lead over Oakland to eight games.
Yankees 4, Athletics 3, 12 innings
NEW YORK (AP) — Jose Molina was hit by Lenny DiNardo’s pitch with the bases loaded in the 12th inning, and the Yankees outlasted the Athletics.
Robinson Cano had four hits and David Robertson earned his first major league win as New York pulled out a tight game that lasted 4 hours, 45 minutes in 93-degree heat.
Mariners 9, Indians 6
SEATTLE (AP) — One-time Seattle prospect Shin-Soo Choo homered and doubled in his first two at-bats, Jeremy Sowers picked up his first win of the season and the Indians beat the Mariners to snap a 10-game road losing streak.
The Indians last road win came June 21 against the Dodgers when CC Sabathia was still Cleveland’s ace and even added a homer that day. The 10-game skid was Cleveland’s longest road slump since 1991 when the Indians dropped 12 straight away from home.
Rays 6, Blue Jays 4
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Rookie All-Star Evan Longoria hit his first career grand slam during a five-run sixth and Matt Garza threw 7 2-3 scoreless innings to help the AL East-leading Rays beat Toronto.
Longoria has struggled recently, going 3-for-23 with no RBIs in his previous seven games. He broke out the slide in a big way with the bases-clearing drive off Toronto ace Roy Halladay (11-7) to put the Rays ahead 5-0.
Royals 9, White Sox 1
CHICAGO (AP) — Gil Meche and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, and John Buck and Billy Butler homered for Kansas City.
Meche (7-9) shut down the AL Central leaders, allowing the two hits and a run in 6 1-3 strong innings. Ron Mahay, Ramon Ramirez and Horacio Ramirez completed the two-hitter.
