Surging Twins down Indians

Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Eduardo Escobar ended up with three hits and drove in a pair of runs to fuel Minnesota's 7-4 decision over Cleveland on Saturday.

Torii Hunter and Brian Dozier added solo homers for the Twins, while Kennys Vargas and Eddie Rosario contributed two hits and an RBI apiece in Minnesota's ninth win in 10 games.

Phil Hughes (2-4) gave up four runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

"I didn't feel I had great stuff today, but I was able to locate some pitches pretty well," Hughes said.

Glen Perkins closed things out with an interesting, but scoreless ninth to earn his 11th save.

David Murphy clubbed a two-run shot and Michael Bourn added two hits, a run scored and one driven in for the Indians.

In his Cleveland debut after his contract was selected from Triple-A Columbus, Bruce Chen (0-1) allowed 10 hits and six runs over four-plus frames.

"I prepare myself well and really wanted to help this team win," Chen said. "I see how the guys are working and playing hard, and today was a very good example. Even though we were down 7-0, the guys made it quite and interesting game."

The Indians climbed back to 7-4 in the seventh, as Nick Swisher and Bourn hit consecutive doubles to start the frame and Murphy, in a pinch-hit role, followed with his third homer of the year -- a blast to center.

Hughes exited with Jason Kipnis aboard on a single, then Brian Duensing walked the next two batters and allowed Kipnis to steal second. Aaron Thompson entered and retired Lonnie Chisenhall on a fly to center.

Perkins permitted a leadoff hit from Kipnis and a one-out single from Brantley in the ninth which put runners on the corners, but Brandon Moss fanned with Brantley at second due to indifference and pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn popped to second.

Hunter's first-inning blast gave Hughes some cushion with which to work, and Minnesota buffered it with three more in the third courtesy of three consecutive RBI singles by Vargas, Escobar and Rosario.

It was 6-0 for the Twins in the fifth. Hunter singled, Joe Mauer doubled and Kurt Suzuki was intentionally walked. Marc Rzepczynski came on to induce a run-scoring double-play grounder from Vargas and an Escobar hit to score Mauer.

In the sixth, Dozier's solo homer was countered by Cleveland's first run of the day, an RBI single from Brantley which scored Kipnis.

Game Notes

Minnesota's top five batters combined to go 10-for-23 with two homers, three RBI and seven runs scored ... Hunter finished with three hits and scored three times, while Dozier ended with two hits and crossed home twice ... Swisher posted his fourth 4-hit game of his career and third for Indians ... To make room for Chen, the Tribe designated pitcher Anthony Swarzak for assignment ... Chen, who went 2-4 with a 7.45 ERA in 13 games for Kansas City last season, took the mound for his 11th team in a 17-year career.