MLB: Minnesota 7, Chicago Cubs 4

Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel homered Friday, helping the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago Cubs 7-4 in an inter-league matchup in Major League Baseball.

The contest at Chicago’s Wrigley Field began this season’s second round of inter-league play.

Mauer belted a two-run third-inning homer and seventh-inning sacrifice fly, and increased his batting average to .488 with two hits. One of Kubel’s two hits was a ninth-inning solo shot.

Brendan Harris had three hits and one RBI. One run scored when Milton Bradley threw Mauer’s seventh-inning fly into the right field seats with one out and a runner on third. Two others added two hits for the Twins, who have won three of four.

Starter and winner Kevin Slowey (9-2) allowed three runs on four hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts over six innings.

Closer Joe Nathan earned his 14th save.

Bradley led Chicago with two hits and two RBI. Derek Lee also had two RBI for the Cubs, who had only six hits and have lost three in a row.

The losing pitcher was starter Randy Wells (0-3).