Max Kepler set a Minnesota Twins rookie record Saturday by driving in seven runs to help the Twins topple the Texas Rangers, 17-5.

The young outfielder hit two home runs in the game — both three-run shots. The Twins did all of their damage early, scoring all 17 runs in the first five innings. The Rangers tried to fight back, but were already in too deep.

Twins designated hitter Eduardo Nunez continued his breakout campaign by collecting four hits, three runs scored and two RBIs. He is now batting .322 on the season.

Even with the win, Minnesota still sits 23 games behind the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central. But there is hope for the future with young players like Kepler, Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton all improving.

Sano hit a home run Saturday. He also had three RBIs and scored two runs. Buxton went 2 for 5 to finally rise above .200.

Player of the day

What the Los Angeles Angels did to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday just wasn't natural. First baseman C.J. Cron and catcher Carlos Perez were especially brutal to the Boston fans still celebrating from the news Al Horford chose the Celtics. Cron went 6 for 6 with two home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored. Perez was almost as prodigious. He went 5 for 6 with a home run, two runs scored and six RBIs. When it was all added up, the Angels beat the Red Sox 21-2 and Mike Trout didn't even drive in a single run. The 19-run differential was Boston's third-worst loss in the history of Fenway Park.

Highlight

Kendrys Morales is really starting to heat up since beginning his experiment in the outfield:

Three things to know

— Rajai Davis became the first Cleveland Indians player to hit for the cycle since Travis Hafner in 2003. Davis finished the game 4 for 5 with two runs scored, a home run, two RBIs and a stolen base. However, the Indians had their 14-game win streak snapped by a 9-6 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays.

— Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez allowed a career-high nine runs (six earned) in a 9-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves. He also gave up two home runs in a game for just the second time in his career. The Braves rank last in MLB in home runs this season.

— Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale earned his MLB-leading 14th win with a 7-6 victory over the Houston Astros. He didn't have his best stuff — he allowed five runs (four earned) while striking out nine batters in seven innings — but the talented lefty did enough to get the job done. Sale also became the first pitcher to win 14 games before the All-Star break since Ubaldo Jimenez in 2010.

What's next

Indians (49-31) at Blue Jays (44-39), 1:07 p.m. ET — Cleveland's 14-game winning streak ended Saturday, but it took firm control of the American League Central in the process. Corey Kluber (8-7, 3.50 ERA) will try to carry his recent good form into a matchup against J.A. Happ (10-3, 3.70 ERA).

Cubs (51-29) at Mets (43-37), 1:10 p.m. ET — After falling to the Mets on Saturday, Chicago has now lost nine of its last 13 games. Jon Lester (9-3, 2.03 ERA) will try to right the ship against Noah Syndergaard (8-3, 2.49 ERA).