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Garza, Brewers lose 5-2 to Twins

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MILWAUKEE (AP) After getting hammered in his last two starts, Matt Garza limited the runs and hits.

A couple of mistakes, however, cost him.

Torii Hunter homered twice and doubled, Eduardo Escobar hit a three-run homer and the Minnesota Twins beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 Saturday.

The home runs came off fastballs Garza didn't locate.

''He made a mistake with his strength,'' Brewers manager Craig Counsell said, describing the fastballs that Escobar and Hunter deposited into the bleachers.

Kyle Gibson (5-6) allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings. He had lost a career-worst three straight decisions after starting June with a no-decision in the Twins' 10-5 loss to Milwaukee at Target Field.

Hunter and Escobar gave Gibson more support than the three runs he had gotten during his losing streak. Escobar hit a three-run homer in the fifth after Hunter doubled and Chris Herrmann walked.

Garza (4-10) had lost his previous two starts, giving up a total of 26 hits and 16 runs. Against the Twins, he allowed four runs and five hits in six innings.

''He probably had four of his best innings of the year,'' Counsell said. ''But, he made a mistake in a spot where a guy can hurt him.''

Garza retired 10 straight coming into the fifth when the game got away from him.

''Escobar hit a fastball that wasn't quite in, and he got it out,'' Garza said, adding he threw a 2-0 fastball to Hunter ''that came right over the middle. I beat myself.''

Hunter homered in the sixth off Garza and in the ninth against Corey Knebel.

''I thought Garza was good today,'' Hunter said. ''He just had one mistake. It's a three-run homer. We were able to capitalize on that mistake.''

Casey Fien pitched the eighth and Glenn Perkins picked up his 24th save in as many chances with a perfect ninth.

Gibson retired 10 of the first 11 batters before Carlos Gomez lined a double in the fourth and scored on Adam Lind's single.

Pinch-hitter Ryan Braun had a two-out, RBI single in the seventh that ended Gibson's start.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Twins: OF Aaron Hicks, sidelined since June 13 with a right forearm strain, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts Friday night for Triple-A Rochester in a rehab assignment.

Brewers: LF Khris Davis, on the 15-day DL with a torn meniscus in his right knee, appears to be improving enough that Counsell said he could head out for a rehab assignment next week.

UP NEXT

Twins: LHP Tommy Milone (4-1) looks to win his third straight start as he goes Sunday against the Brewers.

Brewers: RHP Mike Fiers (3-7) makes his second start of the season against Minnesota. He is 1-1 with an 1.88 ERA in three career starts against the Twins, who beat him 2-0 on June 7 at Target Field.

CHALLENGING

The Brewers challenged their 19th play of the season in the sixth inning after Trevor Plouffe was rule safe at first. After a review of 2:12, the play was overturned and Plouffe was ruled out. The Brewers are 13-8 in challenges this year.