Twins 10, Yankees 1
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins opened a nine-game homestand in style, getting plenty of early offense and a sterling performance on the mound from Phil Hughes in a 10-1 win over the New York Yankees on Friday night at Target Field.
Hughes, a former Yankee, pitched seven shutout innings, scattering seven hits (all singles) and walking none while striking out three.
For Hughes (9-6), who won 16 games a year ago and finished with a 3.52 ERA, it's the first time this season he completed a start with his ERA below 4 at 3.93.
Minnesota provided Hughes with all the support he needed in the early going against Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda, scoring two runs apiece in the first and fourth innings and a single run in the second.
Twins right fielder Torii Hunter had two hits, including a solo home run in the seventh inning. It was his 207th home run in a Twins uniform, tying him with Hall-of-Famer Kirby Puckett for sixth on the club's career list.
Third baseman Trevor Plouffe and Eddie Rosario had three hits apiece for Minnesota. Plouffe finished a triple short of the cycle and scored two runs. Rosario had three hits.
Pineda (9-7) took the loss, allowing five earned runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked none, dropping to 1-4 in his last five decisions since June 22.
The Twins got their offense going early, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Pineda.
A one-out single by Hunter set up designated hitter Miguel Sano, who blasted a 3-2 off-speed pitch over the wall in straight-away center field for his third homer of the season.
Rosario was credited with a double after a popup into shallow left field bounced off the glove of Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius to lead off the second. He scampered home two batters later when catcher Kurt Suzuki hit a sharp single up the middle.
Minnesota tacked on two runs against Pineda in the fourth, getting a leadoff single from Plouffe and another double by Rosario, this one down the right-field line. Center fielder Aaron Hicks drove in Plouffe with a sacrifice fly to right and Suzuki ripped his second RBI single of the night into center field, giving the Twins a 5-0 advantage.
NOTES: The Yankees were a season-best 12 games above .500 before Friday night's loss. ... Twins OF Byron Buxton began taking dry swings and swinging a bat underwater as he recovers from a strained thumb. Buxton could take batting practice this weekend. ... The Yankees and Twins will play the second game of a three-game series at Target Field on Saturday. New York's CC Sabathia (4-8, 5.25 ERA) will oppose Minnesota's Tommy Milone (5-2, 3.38 ERA).