(CHICAGO) – Max Kepler homered twice, rookie Joe Ryan struck out a season-high 11, and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 Wednesday night. Kepler staked the Twins to a 2-0 lead with a homer in the first inning and hit his 19th home run in the fourth, a tiebreaking drive. He has 11 multihomer games, including two this year. The Cubs and Twins are both 67-85, nearing the end of disappointing seasons. Chicago lost for the ninth time in 11 games. Ryan (2-1), a U.S. Olympian acquired from the Tampa Bay on July 22 with minor league pitcher Drew Strotman for Nelson Cruz, limited the Cubs to three hits in five innings in his fourth major league appearance. Ryan, a 25 year old righty, allowed a two-run single to Nico Hoerner in the second before retiring 10 of his final 11 batters. Chicago's Frank Schwindel extended his career-best hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the third. Ryan struck out the next seven batters, including the last five on called third strikes. Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks (14-7) didn't walk a batter for the ninth time in 31 starts. However, the two homers by Kepler increased Hendricks' home runs allowed to a career-high 31 this season. Closer Alex Colome struck out Trayce Thompson with runners at second and third for his 15th save in 22 chances. The Cubs struck out 18 times, tying their season high against Pittsburgh on Sept. 2.

OTHER WEDNESDAY INTERLEAGUE SCORES
Philadelphia 4 – Baltimore 3
Boston 12 – NY Mets 5

WEDNESDAY A.L. SCORES
Ch. White Sox @ Detroit – postponed until September 27
Kansas City @ Cleveland – postponed until September 27
Tampa Bay 7 – Toronto 1
NY Yankees 7 – Texas 3
Houston 9 - LA Angels 5 (12 innings)
Seattle 4 – Oakland 1

WEDNESDAY N.L. SCORES
Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati – postponed until September 27
Washington 7 – Miami 5
St. Louis 10 – Milwaukee 2
Colorado 10 – LA Dodgers 5
Atlanta 9 – Arizona 2
San Francisco 8 – San Diego 5