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Twins score 10 runs in rout of Indians

Apr 23, 2011 - 8:38 PM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Jason Kubel knocked in three runs and Brian Duensing pitched seven strong innings, as the Minnesota Twins rolled to a 10-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a rain-shortened series at Target Field.

Jason Repko and Justin Morneau each knocked in a pair of runs and Danny Valencia clubbed a two-run homer for the Twins, who have won two in a row and four of their last six. Denard Span singled twice, walked and scored three times in the victory. Minnesota hadn't scored more than five runs in a game this season.

"It's a nice way to get a homestand going," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "We put some runs on the board and took some pressure off the pitcher. Today our at-bats were better. Hopefully, we'll continue that."

Duensing (2-0) allowed just a run on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts to win his second straight start. He also threw seven innings to beat Tampa Bay six days ago and had an extra day of rest after the opener of the scheduled three-game set was rained out Friday.

"I made some good pitches and had some good defense behind me," Duensing said.

Grady Sizemore homered for the Indians, who have lost two straight and three of their last four.

Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona (1-3) was knocked around for six runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings. He had surrendered a total of four runs in 21 2/3 innings over his past three starts after being battered for 10 runs on Opening Day against Chicago.

"I felt like he wasn't aggressive enough in the zone and that kind of cost him," said Indians manager Manny Acta about his starter. "Hopefully, next time around that doesn't happen."

The Twins broke through in the third inning with three runs. Alexi Casilla singled with one out and raced to third on a base hit by Span before scoring on an infield hit by Repko. Kubel then chased home two with a double to the gap in left-center field, but was left stranded when Morneau struck out and Michael Cuddyer flied out.

Cleveland answered with a run in the fourth when Asdrubal Cabrera doubled to start the inning, took third on a base hit by Shin-Soo Choo and scored on a fielder's choice grounder by Carlos Santana.

Minnesota, though, tacked on three in the fifth to open some breathing room. Casilla and Span again got it started with singles and Repko advanced both with a bunt before Kubel was intentionally walked. Morneau then singled home two and Cuddyer knocked in a run with a grounder for a 6-1 cushion.

Repko singled home another Minnesota run in the sixth before Kubel added a sacrifice fly. Valencia's two-run blast in the seventh off Chad Durbin made it 10-1. Durbin was charged with four runs in two innings.

"Everybody clicked. It was great to score a lot of runs like that," said Valencia. "It was much needed and a long time coming."

Dusty Hughes took over for Duensing to start the eighth and walked Jack Hannahan before Sizemore connected for his second homer of the season. Hughes, though, retired the next three hitters and Joe Nathan worked a 1-2-3 ninth with a pair of strikeouts to close out the contest. Nathan is no longer the team's closer as he tries to work his way back from surgery that kept him sidelined all of last season.

Game Notes

Morneau had missed five straight games because of the flu...Delmon Young sat out a fourth straight game for Minnesota because of a rib injury...The Twins entered Saturday's action with the fewest runs scored in the majors...The Indians managed only six hits, while the Twins banged out 13.