Arlington, TX – Francisco Liriano pitched into the seventh inning, Justin Morneau homered, and the Twins downed the Rangers, 5-1, in the opener of a three-game series.
Liriano (3-7) allowed one run on five hits over 6 2/3 frames. He walked six, struck out six, and picked up his first road win of the season.
Morneau hit a solo shot and a run-scoring single and Joe Mauer added a pair of RBI for the Twins, who halted a two-game skid. They have won six of their last eight overall.
Martin Perez (1-1) made his second career start and gave up four runs -- two earned -- on six hits over six innings.
Nelson Cruz drove in the lone run for Texas, which had dropped a season-high five straight games.
Mauer triggered a three-run third by driving home Ben Revere and scoring later in the frame on an error by first baseman Mike Napoli. Morneau, who hit a solo blast in the seventh, capped the early burst with a single to right, which plated Josh Willingham.
It was 4-0 in the fourth courtesy of Mauer's sacrifice fly and Texas scored its lone run in the sixth when Adrian Beltre slapped a leadoff single, moved up on a passed ball and scored on Cruz's base hit to left.
The Rangers have been outscored 34-9 during their current losing streak.
Game Notes
Liriano improved to 1-5 on the road this season. He is 4-1 with a save in eight career games -- six starts -- against Texas...Perez won his first major league start on Saturday versus the Athletics.
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