Alex Kirilloff slugs 3-run homer in the 8th, leads Twins past Rangers 5-3 for 4th straight victory

Alex Kirilloff hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday. Kirilloff, who also hit a go-ahead home run in the Twins' series-opening victory over the World Series champions on Friday night, drove a 1-0 pitch from David Robertson (2-2) into the bullpen in left-center, helping Minnesota win its fourth straight game. After a 7-for-59 skid dropped his batting average to .202, Kirilloff has rallied the past eight days, going 5 for 16 with three home runs. "Knowing how much he's been working and certainly been showing signs of coming out of it, for him to deliver the big one there in the eighth was huge, off a really good pitcher," Twins bench coach Jace Tingler said.