SEATTLE — Eduardo Escobar hit a solo home run and six other Minnesota Twins drove in at least one run in a collective 8-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.
Eduardo Nunez had two hits and two RBI and seven Twins scored a run.
Minnesota took advantage of three Mariners errors and two wild pitches.
Austin Jackson had a two-run home run for the Mariners in the seventh, his second.
After the Twins capitalized on two first-inning Mariner errors for a 1-0 lead, Nelson Cruz drove in a pair on a double down the right-field line.
That gave Cruz a league-leading 20 RBI. It’s the most by a Mariners player in April since 2003, when Bret Boone had 21. The club record is 30 by Ken Griffey Jr., in 1997. There are still five games remaining in the month.
Another error in the fifth — the second by third baseman Kyle Seager — set up the Twins’ go-ahead rally, as Nunez and Kurt Suzuki hit successive RBI singles for a 4-3 lead.
It was a hard-luck outing for James Paxton (0-2). Three of his four runs allowed in 4⅔ innings were unearned. He gave up five hits, struck out seven and walked three.
Twins starter Trevor May also departed early, after being hit by a line drive from Seager on the right forearm in the fourth. He has a bruise and X-rays were negative. He went just 3⅓ innings, allowing two runs and three hits, striking out five and walking one.
Tim Stauffer (1-0) earned the win and Glen Perkins was the seventh and final Twins pitcher in the ninth, picking up his fourth save in four chances.
Robinson Canó had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. He’s hitting .409 (18 of 44) during that span.
Trainer’s room
Mariners: RHP Hisashi Iwakuma, placed on the DL Friday, had a second more detailed MRI before the game to determine the extent of a strained muscle under his right arm. He’ll be out two to four weeks.
Twins: Ricky Nolasco (right elbow inflammation), who has been on the DL since April 11 and missed 15 games, will have his first rehab assignment Sunday for Class A Cedar Rapids.
Up next
Mariners: LHP Roenis Elias has yet to be added to the roster, but it’s no secret that he will be promoted from Triple-A Tacoma to start Sunday. He was in the clubhouse before the game. He fills the rotation spot for Iwakuma. Elias, one of the final cuts in training camp, was 10-12 with a 3.85 ERA last season.
Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (1-2, 5.87) makes his fourth start of the season Sunday, coming off a 7-1 loss to Kansas City Monday. He gave up four runs, four hits and walked four in five innings. He is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in four career starts against Seattle.
May removed after hit
May being removed after being hit with the line drive was a disappointment to a large, enthusiastic contingent behind home plate, said to be around 100, from May’s hometown of Kelso.
Boots and bobbles
The three errors committed by the Mariners give them 19 this season. That ties them with Milwaukee for second most in baseball, one behind Oakland, which has 20.
