Minneapolis, MN (Best E Casino) - Justin Morneau went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and finished with five runs driven in, as the Minnesota Twins crushed the Texas Rangers, 14-2, in the middle contest of a three-game set from the Metrodome.

Joe Mauer and Delmon Young each hit solo home runs for the Twins, who have won five of six overall. Brian Buscher added a two-run shot in the win.

Livan Hernandez (10-6) got the win as he allowed just two runs on five hits over seven frames.

Chris Davis hit a two-run homer for the Rangers, who have dropped two in a row and four of six overall. Josh Hamilton went 2-for-4 and was the only Ranger with multiple hits.

Matt Harrison (1-1) took the loss as he was touched for eight runs on nine hits over five-plus frames.

Mauer hit a two-out, solo homer to right-center to give the Twins a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Texas answered in the second inning. Marlon Byrd worked a two-out walk and Davis followed with a two-run shot to right field, giving the Rangers a 2-1 lead.

Alexi Casilla bunted his way on to lead off the fourth inning. Mauer then flied out, but Morneau walked. Craig Monroe hit an RBI single to left field which scored Casilla and moved Morneau to third, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Young followed with an RBI single and it was 3-2 Twins.

Denard Span crushed a one-out double in the fifth and Carlos Gomez followed with another two-base hit, leaving the runners in scoring position. Casilla then flied to right for the second out and Mauer was intentionally walked. Morneau then belted a three-run double to left-center and it was 6-2.

"I was just trying to use the big part of the field, put it in play and make sure I get one of those guys in," Morneau said.

Minnesota exploded for six runs in the sixth. Young led off the inning with a homer and Buscher followed with a single, which chased Harrison in favor of Dustin Nippert. Brendan Harris then went down swinging, but Span clubbed a single. Gomez kept it going with an RBI double, though Casilla struck out. Mauer then hit a two-run double to the gap in left and Morneau deposited a Nippert curveball over the fence in right for a 12-2 cushion.

The Twins tacked on two more runs in the seventh off of Josh Rupe as Young led off with a single and Buscher followed with a homer to right field. The shot gave Minnesota a 14-2 lead.

"You have to give them credit, they pitched well," Michael Young said. "We didn't come out playing like we expected to."

Game Notes

Michael Young was 0-for-4 to end his hit streak at 16 games...The Twins took a 5-4 lead in the season series...Time of game was 2:34.