Twins 8, Angels 2
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins combined for four inning-opening home runs Monday, but the Twins manufactured enough additional runs to blow the game open in an 8-2 win at chilly Target Field.
Joe Mauer went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs to help Minnesota (5-7) end a five-game losing streak. Los Angeles (4-9) lost for the sixth time in eight games.
Trevor Plouffe's fourth-inning-opening homer broke a 2-2 tie, and Maurer opened the fifth with a home run that put the Twins up by two runs. Maurer added an RBI single in the sixth and eighth innings.
Angels leadoff man Peter Bourjos opened the game with a home run off Twins starter Kevin Correia, but Minnesota scored solo runs in five of the first six innings
Correia (1-1) also gave up a homer to Brendan Harris opening the third inning, but he settled down to earn the win. He scattered eight hits and one walk in seven innings. Correia has lasted at least seven innings in each of his first three starts this season.
The meat of Los Angeles' order, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton, went a combined 1-for-8, with Hamilton striking out twice.
Angels starter Joe Blanton, like Correia, gave up two home runs, but he allowed nine hits that the Twins turned into four runs. Blanton fell to 0-3 with an 8.59 ERA through three starts.
With a 3-2 lead in the sixth, the Twins manufactured an insurance run. Brian Dozier walked and moved to second on Pedro Florimon's sacrifice bunt, then to third on a wild pitch. Mauer knocked him in with a single between first and second for his third hit of the game.
In the eighth, the Twins tacked on three more runs, with Florimon striking the big blow, a two-run double. Mauer singled home Florimon for his third RBI.
Plouffe and Florimon each had two hits for the Twins, while Mike Trout and Luis Jimenez collected two hits apiece for the Angels.
NOTES: The game-time temperature was 37 degrees. ... Major League Baseball celebrated Jackie Robinson Day on Monday, with everyone on both rosters wearing the No. 42. ... Twins outfielder Josh Willingham sat out the game with an illness. He was replaced by Oswaldo Arcia, who was called up to the major leagues before the game. ... The Angels' Mike Scioscia (14th season) and the Twins' Ron Gardenhire (12th season) are the two longest-tenured managers in the American League. ... Bourjos' blast was the first game-opening home run of his career.
