MINNEAPOLIS -- 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 RBI. Young had three hits and two RBI 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. Full story
Royals 9, White Sox 1
CHICAGO -- Gil Meche and three relievers combined on a two-hitter while John Buck and Billy Butler homered to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox.
One night after the White Sox had seven hits in the first inning against Zack Greinke, 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 as Chicago's lead was chopped to a half-game after the fast-charging Twins beat the Rangers 14-2.
Meche gave up a one-out double in the third to Joe Crede and a triple to Alexei Ramirez in the sixth when the White Sox got their only run on Orlando Cabrera's sacrifice fly.
