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Hughes comes up huge as Twins rip Tigers

Aug 28, 2011 - 10:40 PM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Luke Hughes homered twice and knocked in five runs, and the Twins snapped a seven-game losing streak Sunday by beating the Tigers 11-4.

Hughes hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning and a three-run shot in the seventh. Jason Kubel added a two-run homer and drove in three for the Twins, who also avoided a three-game sweep.

"You've got to go out to the ballpark ready to play every day," said Hughes. "If you don't, they'll find someone else to do that."

It was only their sixth win in the last 27 games, and the second victory of their completed 11-game homestand.

Brian Duensing (9-13) pitched six innings for the win, giving up four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits. The 28-year-old lefty snapped an 0-5 streak and won for the first time since July 27.

Brad Penny (9-10) was hammered for seven runs and eight hits in five-plus innings to take the loss, his first in four starts.

"I didn't really have a good breaking ball today," said Penny. "Didn't have a lot of opportunities to throw it and get a feel for it, but I felt strong, my arm felt great."

Ramon Santiago went 4-for-4 with a two-run single for the Tigers, who suffered just their second loss in 10 games.

Kubel belted a two-run homer in the first inning, his 10th, to give the Twins a 2-0 lead, but Santiago singled in the second to tie the game for Detroit.

Ben Revere walked in the third, stole second base and scored on Justin Morneau's single to give Minnesota the lead for good at 3-2.

Then, the Twins poured it on.

They scored three runs in the fourth inning with no outs when Danny Valencia singled, Rene Tosoni tripled and Hughes hit his two-run homer.

After the Tigers scratched together two runs in the top of the sixth, Rene Rivera hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning to make it 7-4. Hughes then capped a four-run rally in the seventh with a three-run blast, his sixth homer of the season, for the final margin.

Game Notes

The Twins improved to 4-11 against Detroit this season, including 2-7 at home...The Tigers were just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, stranding six.