Twins right-hander Phil Hughes didn't fare much better, getting pulled after 4 2/3 innings while allowing nine hits and four runs. Hughes departed with a 5-4 lead, but Seattle tied things up on a solo homer by Luis Sardinas in the sixth before Sano delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh in the see-saw affair.
Nunez went 4-for-5 for the Twins and scored twice as Minnesota improved to 14-34 and has won three in a row for just the second time this season. The Mariners racked up 14 hits and four walks, but stranded 10 runners as they saw their American League West lead shrink to a half-game over Texas at 28-20.