Minneapolis, MN (Best E Casino) - Craig Monroe belted a two-run homer and Matt Macri also knocked in two runs, as the streaking Minnesota Twins beat up on the Arizona Diamondbacks, 7-2, in the opener of a three-game set from the Metrodome.

Carlos Gomez and Joe Mauer each had a double and an RBI for the Twins, who have won four straight and six of seven overall.

Scott Baker (3-2) took the win as he lasted six innings and yielded just one run on seven hits while striking out seven. Joe Nathan struck out the side in the ninth.

Orlando Hudson had three hits and scored once for the D-Backs, who have lost four of their last six contests. Mark Reynolds drove in both runs for Arizona.

"It happens," Hudson said of the loss. "It's part of the game, we have to bounce back tomorrow and put this behind us."

Randy Johnson (4-5) was dealt the loss as he gave up all seven runs on 11 hits in eight innings of work.

Delmon Young singled and Brendan Harris doubled, as the Twins had runners at the corners with no outs in the third. Macri then singled up the middle to plate both runners, but Gomez flied out.

Alexi Casilla offered a sac bunt and Macri advanced to third on a botched throw by Miguel Montero. Mauer's sac fly brought Macri around and Morneau's single scored Casilla. Monroe closed out the scoring with a homer to center, and Minnesota was ahead 6-0.

Minnesota tacked on another run in the fourth. Young singled and Harris followed with a force out. Two batters later, Gomez took the first pitch he saw to left for an RBI double.

Reynolds led off the sixth inning with a first-pitch homer over the wall in left to put the D-Backs on the board.

Arizona closed within five runs, 7-2, in the eighth inning. Hudson led off with a single and took second as Harris botched the throw. Chad Tracy's ground out advanced the runner to third and Reynolds' ground out produced a run.

"After taking three from Washington we got a little momentum going," Morneau said. "We had that big inning early and it was a big win."

Game Notes

Johnson has now lost four straight starts and is winless over his past six appearances on the hill. The left-hander hadn't dropped four consecutive starts since losing five in a row from June 20-July 10 of the 1999 season. Johnson is currently tied with Tommy John for 24th on the all-time wins list with 288. The Big Unit is also a dozen victories shy of becoming the 24th member of the 300-win club...The Twins are now 23-16 at the Metrodome this season. Minnesota is 5-2 in its last six encounters with Arizona. Both clubs are meeting for the first time since the 2005 season...The Twins are 7-3 against the National League in 2008, while the D'Backs own a 5-5 mark in interleague play. Overall, Minnesota is 113-89 versus the Senior Circuit, with Arizona sporting a 78-89 record against the AL.