Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Russell Martin went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI, and Phil Hughes threw 7 2/3 innings of two-hit ball in the New York Yankees' 8-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Hughes (4-4) yielded a first-inning home run to Trevor Plouffe and was nearly unhittable thereafter. The right-hander retired 14 straight at one point and shook off three walks to record his fourth straight quality start, during which his earned run average has dipped from 9.47 to 5.75.
"I just tried to stay aggressive. I got a lot of quick outs," Hughes said. "I got away with most of my mistakes."
Mark Teixeira doubled twice and drove in three runs for the Yankees, who have won seven of nine to stay atop the AL East standings. They are a season-high 29 games over .500 at 76-47.
Kevin Slowey (0-1), in technically his first start of the season, was touched for six runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings for the Twins, who dropped the opener of this four-game set on Thursday after taking two of three at Detroit.
Martin went deep to left in the third inning to counter Plouffe's round- tripper, and consecutive doubles by Teixeira and Robinson Cano in the fourth gave the visitors the lead for good.
The Yankees tacked on two in the fifth, though with the way Hughes was pitching they didn't need the insurance.
"[Hughes] was hitting his spots," acknowledged Twins outfielder Ben Revere.
With runners on the corners, Curtis Granderson doubled off the first-base bag to score Brett Gardner and move Derek Jeter to third. Teixeira then lofted a fly ball to left, and Rene Tosoni's throw to home plate was slightly off target, allowing Jeter to slide in safely.
Martin's two-run shot an inning later ended Slowey's night. Jorge Posada singled ahead of the blast, Martin's 15th of the season.
Teixeira capped the scoring with a two-run double down the right-field line in the ninth.