CLEVELAND (AP) -- Torii Hunter went 4 for 4, including a solo homer, and drove in four runs, leading the Minnesota Twins past the Cleveland Indians 9-3 on Friday night.
The Twins have won eight of nine and are 16-7 since April 13.
Hunter, answering a high and tight fastball from Trevor Bauer in the fifth inning, homered into the bleachers in left on the next pitch to give Minnesota a 4-2 lead. Hunter added a three-run double in the sixth. He doubled in the first and singled in the third.
Hunter, with a chance for a five-hit game, walked on four pitches in the ninth.
Mike Pelfrey (3-0), rebounding from his shortest outing of the season, gave up two runs in seven innings.
Bauer (2-1) allowed five runs in five-plus innings as Cleveland's problems continue. The Indians (10-18) have the worst record in the American League and are 4-9 at home.
Michael Brantley hit a solo homer for Cleveland in the eighth.
The Twins' decision to sign the 39-year-old Hunter to a one-year contract in December, is paying big dividends. He has 13 hits and 11 RBIs in his last seven games and is batting .280 for the season.
Joe Mauer had an RBI single in the first while rookie Eddie Rosario added a run-scoring single in the second for Minnesota.
The Indians tied it in the third on Carlos Santana's RBI double and a run-scoring single by Lonnie Chisenhall.
Kennys Vargas' RBI single gave Minnesota the lead for good in the fourth.
Rosario continued his impressive first week in the majors. He homered on the first pitch he saw in his first major league at-bat Wednesday and drove in two runs Thursday.
Pelfrey lasted 3 1-3 innings Sunday against the White Sox despite being handed a 7-0 lead.
Bauer, who hasn't won since April 15, was pulled after Kurt Suzuki's leadoff double in the sixth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: Mauer was back in the lineup after having Thursday off, the first game he missed this season. He has played in 29 of Minnesota's 30 games.
Indians: LHP TJ House (sore shoulder) threw at 90 feet Friday and will increase his throwing program in the upcoming days. He was placed on the 15-day DL on May 1.
UP NEXT
Twins: RHP Phil Hughes, who recorded his first win of the season Monday, will start Saturday. After going 16-10 with a 3.52 ERA last season, Hughes is 1-4 with a 5.02 ERA in seven starts. He lost to the Indians on April 18.
Indians: LHP Bruce Chen will have his contract purchased from Triple-A Columbus to start Saturday. His last major league appearance came against the Twins on Aug. 28, while pitching for Kansas City. He allowed six runs and five hits in one inning.
