Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Jason Kubel hit a three-run double to break a scoreless tie in the sixth, and the Twins recorded their second straight shutout of the Mariners, 4-0, to complete a three-game sweep.
Francisco Liriano (10-7) threw seven scoreless innings for the third consecutive start, allowing just two hits and two walks while fanning 11 in Minnesota's eighth straight win.
Luke French (0-2), in his second start this season, was touched for four runs on seven hits and a walk in six frames to take the loss, Seattle's seventh in a row.
The closest either team came to scoring early on occurred in the second, when Seattle's Casey Kotchman hit a bomb down the left-field line that instant replay confirmed went foul.
The Mariners had a chance to break the scoreless tie in the fifth with runners on the corners, but Ichiro Suzuki bounced back to the mound to end the frame.
Minnesota was able to light up the scoreboard in the sixth, as Kubel sent a drive high off the wall in right-center to score Alexi Casilla, Delmon Young, and Michael Cuddyer.
Danny Valencia's base hit to left made it 4-0, a margin Jon Rauch and Matt Guerrier held up with a perfect inning of relief apiece for the hosts.
Game Notes
The Twins will look to extend their winning streak when they start a four-game series at Tampa Bay on Monday. The Mariners head home to open a three-game set with the Rangers on Tuesday after a miserable seven-game road trip ..Cuddyer went 0-for-3 at the plate, snapping his hitting streak at 15 games...Kubel, Valencia and Denard Span each had two hits for the Twins.
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