Milwaukee 6, Minnesota 2

Brewers 6, Twins 2: Ryan Braun homered twice and Michael Fiers pitched seven strong innings as visiting Milwaukee clinched a series win against regional rival Minnesota.

Norichika Aoki drove in two runs and Aramis Ramirez and Cody Ransom each added a solo shot for the Brewers, who lead the season series against the Twins, 3-2.

Braun, who went 3-for-4 with a double, has hit four homers in the last three games to tie for the National League lead with 19 blasts. The reigning MVP took a 3-2 fastball from right-hander Liam Hendriks out to the opposite field in the third and pulled a 1-1 slider into the stands in left in the fifth.

Fiers (2-2) had gotten knocked around in his last two starts but was sharp Saturday, yielding one run and four hits while striking out five and walking a pair.

Milwaukee got to Hendriks (0-3) early, when Aoki singled in a pair of runs in the second inning. Braun and Ramirez went back-to-back in the third to push it to 4-0.

Hendriks, who was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to make the spot start, was charged with five runs - two earned - and eight hits in five innings.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Twins C Joe Mauer (hamstring) did not start but appeared as a pinch hitter and grounded out in the ninth. He is day-to-day. First baseman Justin Morneau (forearm) returned to the lineup after a one-game absence. … Minnesota 3B Trevor Plouffe, who had seven home runs in the previous seven games, went 0-for-1 with three walks. … Milwaukee had three players - starter Marco Estrada and infielders Travis Ishikawa and Cesar Izturis - beginning rehab assignments at Triple-A on Saturday.

• Minnesota will play their next game at home against Milwaukee. The Twins have a W/L % of .400 after a win and .385 after a loss.
• Milwaukee will play their next game on the road against Minnesota. The Brewers have a W/L % of .448 after a win and .472 after a loss.