MINNEAPOLIS — With all those hits Livan Hernandez has given up and Francisco Liriano waiting impatiently in the minors, the natural assumption is that the Minnesota Twins might soon make a change in their rotation.

The Twins aren't listening to the hubbub. They're too busy admiring their 14-7 record when Hernandez starts.

Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau each went deep and drove in eight runs between them, as the Twins heaped four home runs on their usual small-ball approach to beat the Texas Rangers, 14-2, last night.

"I come back in the second half and try to do something good," said Hernandez (10-6), who proudly pointed to his 10th double-digit victory total in 12 seasons after a 16-hit barrage by the home team.

He was flawless for seven innings and matched his season low of five hits allowed against the highest-scoring team in the majors.

"I think sometimes you've just got to give the guy who's out there on the mound credit for making the right pitch at the right time in the ballgame," Texas manager Ron Washington said.

Delmon Young hit a solo shot, too, to start a six-run sixth inning that ruined Rangers starter Matt Harrison's already-deteriorating night. Right after Mauer's two-run double against reliever Dustin Nippert, Morneau — the reigning All-Star Home Run Derby champ — crushed a 1-1 pitch into the seat stacks above right field for his 15th homer and a 12-2 advantage for the surging Twins.

Brian Buscher added a two-run home run in the seventh to push the lead to a dozen and give Minnesota a 23-7 record since mid-June, but the hits came in all shapes and sizes.

Morneau also hit a three-run double, following an intentional walk to Mauer, and now has 73 RBIs. Young had three hits and two RBIs to raise his average above .300. Carlos Gomez doubled twice, once by sneaking into second when Texas left fielder David Murphy lazily returned his chopper to the infield. Even backup catcher Mike Redmond, who relieved Mauer for the last two innings, contributed a bouncing single over the mound after a 14-pitch at-bat in the eighth.

Harrison (1-1) threw 84 pitches and didn't get any outs in the sixth. He was tagged for nine hits, eight runs and three walks without a strikeout. After winning his major league debut with seven innings and only five hits and two runs on July 8, Harrison has been hit hard in his last two starts.

Perhaps Vicente Padilla can put the Texas rotation back in a better place. He was scheduled to be activated from the 15-day disabled list and pitch this afternoon.

The biggest problem for the Rangers, post-break, has been a sudden disappearance of their mighty offense. They had four regulars in the All-Star game, but they've managed only eight hits in the last two games.

"It's two games, guys. There's no panic here," said second baseman Ian Kinsler.

Hernandez's performance down the stretch will surely be scrutinized, with Liriano looming in upstate New York. The prized left-hander's comeback from elbow surgery is essentially complete, and agent Greg Genske — who also represents Hernandez — asked the union to make sure Minnesota is not keeping him in the minors to save money. Liriano is 7-0 with a 2.73 ERA over his last nine starts for Triple-A Rochester.

"He's one of my friends, but the situation is not easy right now," Hernandez said, adding: "I think nothing is going to happen, because everybody is pitching good."

ANGELS 4, RED SOX 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Pinch-hitter Erick Aybar hit a bases-clearing triple to highlight a four-run seventh, helping Los Angeles rally past Boston. Los Angeles pinch hitters were just 6 for 38 with five RBIs this season before Aybar's clutch hit.

YANKEES 4, ATHLETICS 3

NEW YORK — Jose Molina was hit by Lenny DiNardo's pitch with the bases loaded in the 12th inning, lifting New York over Oakland. Robinson Cano had four hits and David Robertson earned his first major league win as New York pulled out a tight game that lasted 4 hours, 45 minutes in 93-degree heat.

INDIANS 9, MARINERS 6

SEATTLE — One-time Seattle prospect Shin-Soo Choo homered and doubled in his first two at-bats and Jeremy Sowers (1-5) allowed four runs and five hits over six innings to help Cleveland end a 10-game road losing streak.

RAYS 6, BLUE JAYS 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rookie All-Star Evan Longoria, 3 for 23 with no RBIs in his previous seven games, hit his first career grand slam off Roy Halladay (11-7) to cap a five-run sixth for a 5-0 lead, and Matt Garza (8-5) spaced two hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings to help AL East-leading Tampa Bay beat Toronto.

ROYALS 9, WHITE SOX 1

CHICAGO — Gil Meche (7-9) allowed a run and two hits in 6 1/3 innings, Ron Mahay, Ramon Ramirez and Horacio Ramirez completed the two-hitter, and John Buck and Billy Butler homered to lead Kansas City over AL Central-leading Chicago.

ORIOLES 11, TIGERS 10

BALTIMORE — Ramon Hernandez homered off Joel Zumaya to tie the score at 10 in the ninth and Luke Scott homered off Freddy Dolsi (1-4) in the bottom of the 10th to lift Baltimore over Detroit.