Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Trevor Plouffe doubled twice and drove in four runs to power the Minnesota Twins to a 7-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.
Phil Hughes (5-6) was brilliant in his eight innings on the mound, permitting just one run and two hits while striking out four and walking none.
"Tonight he was excellent," Plouffe said of Hughes. "Whenever he's on the mound, we know we have a good chance."
Brian Dozier and Eddie Rosario each finished with two hits and two runs scored and Eduardo Escobar also drove in a run for the Twins, who won their third straight game.
Anthony Rizzo hit two solo home runs for the Cubs, who have dropped their last two games and three of their last four.
Kyle Hendricks (2-3) gave up seven runs -- six earned -- on 11 hits over five- plus innings in defeat.
"I just wasn't making pitches. I just didn't have it today," Hendricks said. "I need to expand more early."
The Twins wasted no time getting on the board. Dozier, Rosario and Joe Mauer each singled to load the bases with no outs before Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro misplayed Plouffe's grounder, allowing two runs to score.
Rosario tripled to right to open the third and trotted home on Plouffe's double off the glove of right fielder Chris Denorfia and off the wall for a 3-0 Twins lead.
Rizzo led off the fourth with a solo shot to right-center field to get the Cubs on the board, but Plouffe drove in two with a double an inning later for a four-run Minnesota advantage.
In the sixth, Kurt Suzuki started the frame with a single, Kennys Vargas doubled and both runners came home on Escobar's single compounded with Cubs catcher Miguel Montero's throwing error for a 7-1 game.
Rizzo stroked his second homer of the game with two outs in the ninth off J.R. Graham to account for the final score.
