MLB: Minnesota 8, Tampa Bay 1

MINNEAPOLIS, July 18 (UPI) -- Francisco Liriano outpitched Scott Kazmir Tuesday as the Minnesota Twins beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 8-1.

Liriano (11-2), working 8 2/3 innings, allowed an unearned run on three hits with seven strikeouts.

Nick Punto went 2-for-3 with a run scored and three runs batted in and Joe Mauer drove in a pair of runs for the Twins, who have won five straight games. Justin Morneau hit his 25th homer of the season.

Kazmir (10-7), who has lost three of his last four starts, lasted six innings, yielding four runs on seven hits and a walk. Rocco Baldelli drove in the only run for the Devil Rays, who have lost five in a row and eight of their last nine games.