Minneapolis, MN (My Sportsbook) - Francisco Liriano was virtually unhittable on the mound and Jason Kubel hit a two-run homer, as the Minnesota Twins crushed the Seattle Mariners, 9-3, in the opener of a three-game set from the Metrodome.

Liriano (3-3) gave up two runs -- neither of which were earned -- on two hits over seven frames while fanning five and walking two. The win pulled the Twins into a tie with the Chicago White Sox for the AL Central lead. The Pale Hose fell to the Oakland Athletics, 6-4, on Friday night.

Nick Punto added two RBI and scored twice for the Twins, who are 6-2 over their last eight games. Denard Span, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau each drove in a run in the win.

"It's a good way to open up a series," Punto said. "We got to keep on winning from here on out."

Former Twin Carlos Silva (4-14) took the loss as he was roughed up for nine runs on nine hits in just 3 1/3 innings. Silva hasn't won since June 28 at San Diego and owns just one victory since April 17. He now also leads the American League in losses with 14.

Miguel Cairo had two of the six hits and scored for Seattle, which is just 2-6 over its last eight games. Adrian Beltre and Raul Ibanez also scored in defeat.

The Twins got on the board in the first inning. Span and Punto started the frame with back-to-back doubles, with Punto's two-baser scoring a run. Mauer then advanced Punto to third as he flied out to left and Morneau brought him home with a sac fly to make it 2-0.

Cairo broke up Liriano's perfect-game bid after 3 1/3 innings with a ground- rule double and moved to third as Ibanez grounded out. Beltre and Jose Lopez both walked to load the bases and Wladimir Balentien hit a grounder to third which rolled through Brian Buscher's legs and tied the game as two runs scored.

Minnesota got the lead back in the home half as Morneau led off with a walk and Kubel followed with a homer. Delmon Young and Buscher kept it going with singles and Adam Everett belted an RBI base hit, before Carlos Gomez grounded into a force out leaving runners on the corners.

Span and Punto both managed RBI singles which chased Silva in favor of Jake Woods. Mauer welcomed Woods to the game with an RBI single and Kubel followed suit, making it 9-2.

"Obviously we're not winning as much as we'd like," Seattle's Jeff Clement said.

The M's added a run in the ninth as Ibanez led off with a double off Brian Bass and came around two batters later when Tug Hulett grounded into a double play.

Game Notes

The Twins are 3-1 on their current nine-game homestand and 42-22 at the Metrodome this season...Seattle won two of three games against Minnesota from August 4-6 this season at Safeco Field. The Mariners had won four of the last six meetings in this series prior to Friday...Time of game was 2:28.