SEATTLE - Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel homered on consecutive pitches, Delmon Young hit a two-run shot and the Minnesota Twins held on to tie their season-high with their fifth consecutive victory, 5-4 over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.

Jon Rauch allowed a leadoff double by Jose Lopez and RBI single by Josh Wilson to begin the ninth. Pinch-hitter Ken Griffey Jr. appeared for the first time in eight days and grounded into a fielder's choice. It would have been a double play had Justin Morneau not missed a short-hop throw at first base.

The double play came next when pinch-hitter Casey Kotchman sent a hard grounder into Morneau's glove over the bag. Morneau then threw to J.J. Hardy for the tag on pinch-runner Michael Saunders at second base. Rauch had his 13th save in 15 chances, and third in four days.

That made Francisco Liriano a winner for the first time since May 2.

Liriano (5-3) allowed eight hits and three runs - one on a wild pitch, the other two on ground balls - in six innings. He struck out seven to end his three-game losing streak.

Morneau doubled twice and had three hits to raise his major league-leading average to .377 as Minnesota finished 16-12 in May. Coupled with their 15-8 April, the Twins had consecutive winning full months (not counting partial Octobers) for the first time in three seasons.

They added four games to their lead in the AL Central in May. It is now 4 1/2 games over Detroit.

Doug Fister (3-3) lost his AL lead in ERA to Tampa Bay's Jeff Niemann while allowing a career high-tying three home runs in the first four innings Monday for Seattle.

The Mariners went 8-19 in May. The last time they lost so much in a month was May 2008, a season in which they finished with 101 losses.

Minnesota Seattle

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Span cf 4 0 1 0 ISuzuki rf 4 1 1 0

Hardy ss 4 0 0 0 Figgins 2b 4 2 2 0

Mauer c 4 0 0 0 FGtrrz cf 4 0 2 0

Mornea 1b 4 1 3 0 Bradly lf 4 0 0 2

Thome dh 4 0 1 0 MSwny dh 4 0 0 0

ACasill pr-dh 0 0 0 0 JoLopz 3b 4 1 2 0

Cuddyr 2b-rf 4 2 2 2 JoWilsn ss 4 0 3 1

Kubel rf 4 1 1 1 RJhnsn c 3 0 0 0

BHarrs pr-3b 0 0 0 0 GrffyJr ph 1 0 0 0

DlmYn lf 4 1 2 2 MSndrs pr 0 0 0 0

Punto 3b-2b 3 0 0 0 Tuiassp 1b 3 0 0 0

Ktchm ph 1 0 0 0

Totals 35 5 10 5 Totals 36 4 10 3

Minnesota 030 200 000 - 5

Seattle 001 020 001 - 4

DP-Minnesota 1, Seattle 2. LOB-Minnesota 3, Seattle 5. 2B-Morneau 2 (18), Delm.Young (13), F.Gutierrez (7), Jo.Lopez (7). HR-Cuddyer (6), Kubel (6), Delm.Young (5).

IP H R ER BB SO

Minnesota

Liriano W,5-3 6 8 3 3 0 7

Crain H,5 1 0 0 0 0 1

Guerrier H,11 1 0 0 0 0 1

Rauch S,13-15 1 2 1 1 0 0

Seattle

Fister L,3-3 7 2/3 8 5 5 0 6

Rowland-Smith 1/3 2 0 0 0 0

League 1 0 0 0 0 0

Umpires-Home, Dale Scott; First, Jerry Meals; Second, Mark Wegner; Third, Dan Iassogna.

T-2:22. A-19,795 (47,878).