MINNEAPOLIS – Matt Kinney of Bangor pitched five strong innings Saturday night, earning his first victory in eight starts, as the Minnesota Twins beat the Florida Marlins 5-3.

Kinney, who improved to 2-5, last won April 20 in his season debut against Cleveland.

“Finally, we picked him up a little bit,” said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire, “because he’s picked us up before.”

Kinney, a righthander, tied a season high with six strikeouts, walking two, and yielding six hits and three runs in five innings.

Jacque Jones and Torii Hunter each drove in two runs for the Twins.

“I’ll be glad to get out of here,” said Florida manager Jeff Torborg, whose team has dropped the first two of a three-game series at the Metrodome.

Jones, Hunter, Dustan Mohr and Luis Rivas had two hits apiece for the Twins, who won their third straight and are a major league-best 23-10 at home. All but one of Minnesota’s runs scored on doubles, and the Twins lead the majors with 142 two-base hits.

“They can flat-out hit,” Torborg said. “They’ve done everything right against us.”

Floyd and Lowell, batting third and fourth, were walked consecutively by Kinney to start the sixth. But Minnesota’s bullpen, as it’s done all year, entered and refused to budge.

Tony Fiore came on to preserve a one-run lead. J.C. Romero relieved in the seventh, Mike Jackson pitched the eighth and Eddie Guardado worked the ninth for his 18th save in 20 opportunities.

Fiore “gave us a big lift,” Kinney said. “That was probably the turning point in the game. They had a chance. Our bullpen has been outstanding.”