MLB: Minnesota 10, Kansas City 3

Liriano (13-7) surrendered two runs on seven hits, walking none and striking out four, to notch his seventh straight win and lift the Twins to their fifth consecutive victory.

Coupled with a loss by the Chicago White Sox to Detroit Tuesday, the win lengthened Minnesota's lead in the American League Central to 4 1/2 games over the Sox.

Young's two-run single highlighted a six-run Twins outburst in the third inning. He added a two-run double in the fourth while J.J. Hardy contributed three RBI in the Twins win.

Jim Thome cracked a solo blast in the sixth inning, his team-leading 22nd homer of the year and No. 586 of his career, tying him with Frank Robinson for eighth place on baseball's all-time homer list.

Kansas City starter Brian Bannister (7-12) lasted only 2 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits.

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