Cron's HR caps 6-run first as Twins beat Rangers 12-7

C.J. Cron had a two-run home in Minnesota's six-run first inning, and the Twins went on to beat the Texas Rangers 12-7 on Saturday night.

Tyler Duffey (4-1) earned the win by retiring the last two batters of the fifth inning to leave the bases loaded. It became the second victory he got on the day because hours before the game he was awarded a win for Minnesota's 4-3 victory Friday night that originally was credited to Sam Dyson.

The Twins increased their lead in the AL Central Division to 2 1/2 games, their largest since Aug. 6.

Minnesota Twins' Marwin Gonzalez follows though on a two-run double next to Texas Rangers catcher Jose Trevino during the first inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

The Rangers have lost nine of their last 11 games and are three games under .500 for the first time since May 18.

Ariel Jurado (6-9) nearly escaped the first inning scoreless, but a relay throw to him to complete what would have been an inning ending 3-6-1 double play skipped off the top of his glove as he ran across the bag. Jurado allowed a career-high eight runs — including the six unearned in the first — for the second straight start in two innings.

Miguel Sanó also homered in the ninth for Minnesota. It gave the Twins a major league leading 240 home runs, putting them on pace to break the record of 267 set last season by the New York Yankees.

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios throws to a Texas Rangers batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

José Berrios lasted only 4 1/3 innings, his shortest start of the season. Berrios allowed seven runs, three earned, and seven hits with three walks.

Danny Santana hit two two-run homers in the first two innings, giving him 21 this season after going into the year with 13 in 364 career games. Santana became the fourth player in the history of the Rangers-Washington Senators franchise to homer in each of the first two innings, joining Mark Teixeira, Carl Everett and Ian Kinsler — who did it twice.

The benches cleared after Marwin Gonzalez's ground out to end the top of the eighth when Gonzalez and Rangers reliever Shawn Kelley exchanged words.

Minnesota Twins' Max Kepler follows through on an RBI single during the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

Gonzalez, Sanó, Jorge Polanco and Jake Cave each had three hits for Minnesota.

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Twins: LHP Martín Pérez (8-5, 4.57 ERA) will make his return to Globe Life Park after spending his first seven big league seasons with the Rangers. Pérez beat Texas at home on July 5 in his only appearance against his former club.

Minnesota Twins' Marwin Gonzalez, left, and Miguel Sano (22) celebrate after Gonzalez scored during the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

Rangers; RHP Lance Lynn (14-8, 3.54) spent the first half of last season with the Twins and has never faced Minnesota in seven-plus major league seasons. Lynn is 2-2 in his last four starts despite allowing only four total earned runs.

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Minnesota Twins' Miguel Sano (22), Tommy Watkins (40), Marwin Gonzalez (9) and Texas Rangers' Rougned Odor, center, disperse after both benches cleared during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

Minnesota Twins' Marwin Gonzalez (9) walks away after both benches cleared following an exchange between Gonzalez and Texas Rangers' Shawn Kelley during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

Minnesota Twins' Miguel Sano (22) is restrained as others run onto the field in the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. Both benches cleared after an exchange between Rangers' Shawn Kelley and Twins' Marwin Gonzalez. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

Minnesota Twins' C.J. Cron (24) and Marwin Gonzalez, right, are greeted at the dugout after Cron hit a two-run home run that scored Gonzalez during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. The Twins won 12-7. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

Minnesota Twins' Jorge Polanco (11) and Luis Arraez (2) celebrate after Polanco scored during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers' Shawn Kelley walks to the dugout after the top of the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Minnesota Twins where benches cleared after an exchange between Kelley and Twins' Marwin Gonzalez in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoTony Gutierrez)