Twins 7, Cubs 2
MINNEAPOLIS -- Phil Hughes had his best outing of the season and Trevor Plouffe knocked in four runs as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Chicago Cubs 7-2 on Friday night at Target Field for their third consecutive victory.
Hughes lasted eight innings for the second time this season -- his first in a win -- and allowed one run and two hits while striking out four and walking none.
Hughes retired the final 15 batters he faced for his first victory since May 27.
Plouffe, who entered the game hitting just .164 in June, had his second game this season with at least four RBIs. He had driven in just five runs in his last 16 games.
Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks struggled, allowing a season-high seven runs (six earned) and one walk with one strikeout in five innings.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo was the only Chicago player to do any damage against Twins pitching, hitting two home runs.
Twins right fielder Eddie Rosario, second baseman Brian Dozier and left fielder Eduardo Escobar each had two hits. Dozier and Rosario scored twice.
The Twins scored two runs in the first inning, taking advantage of an error by Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Plouffe grounded to short for what appeared to be a sure double play.
Castro booted the ball, however, allowing one run to score. As Castro retrieved the ball and looked away in disgust, Rosario took off from third and scored a second run, giving the Twins a 2-0 lead.
The top of the Twins' order came through again in the third. Rosario was within a foot of a home run, settling for a triple after hitting a ball off the top of the wall in right. Two batters later, Plouffe doubled to right, giving Minnesota a three-run lead.
Rizzo brought Chicago back within two runs when he hammered a 2-2 hanging slider from Hughes over the wall in right field for his 13th homer of the season leading off the fourth.
But Plouffe came up big again in the fifth, bashing his second double of the night into the gap in left center, driving in two more and giving the Twins a 5-1 lead.
NOTES: Cubs 3B Mike Olt began a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Friday. Olt has been out since mid-April with a fractured right wrist. ... Cubs OF Jorge Soler took batting practice on the field. Soler has been on the 15-day disabled list since June 3 with a sprained left ankle. ... Twins OF Jordan Schafer was released. Schafer has been on the disabled list with a sprained knee. ... The Cubs and Twins will play the second game of a three-game series at Target Field on Saturday. Chicago LHP Jon Lester (4-5, 3.99) will oppose Minnesota righty Trevor May (4-5, 4.26 ERA).