Iwakuma Leads Mariners Past Twins 3-0

Hisashi Iwakuma continued his string of spectacular starts Friday, allowing no runs on seven hits in seven innings in the Mariners’ 3-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Target Center. The Mariners have won two in a row after 10 losses in the previous 12 games.

The Mariners have seven shutout victories this season, and have won eight of their past 11 at Target Field.

Iwakuma, improving to 6-2, worked 7.2 innings and gave up seven hits. He struck out five and walked two, lowering his ERA to 2.13.

Neither the the Mariners (24-31) nor the Twins did much of anything offensively until the sixth inning. Kyle Seagler opened with a single and Kendrys Morales, who has hit in nine of his past 11, launched a shot over the wall in center on a 1-0 count for a 2-0 lead. The home run was Morales’ eighth and lifted his batting average to .299.

The Mariners continue their three-game series against the Twins Saturday morning. RHP Aaron Harang (2-5, 6.51), who threw a complete-game shutout in his last start, will oppose RHP Kevin Correia (5-4, 3.96). Correia is 3-1 with a 2.50 ERA at home.

NOTES: Manager Eric Wedge said Friday that veteran Jeremy Bonderman will be recalled from AAA Tacoma to make a start against the Twins in the finale of the three-game series Sunday. Bonderman, 30, hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2010, when he went 8-10 with a 5.53 ERA for the Tigers. He’s since undergone shoulder and elbow surgeries and was out of baseball for two years before signing a minor league deal with the Mariners. The Kennewick, WA., native went 2-4 with a 4.52 ERA in 11 starts for Tacoma. He will take the roster spot that opened up when rookie Brandon Maurer was sent down earlier this week . . . Injured outfielder  Michael Morse (strained quadriceps) rejoined the team Friday, but may not be able to play until the club returns to Seattle for  10 games, starting Monday against the Chicago White Sox . . . Robert Andino cleared waivers Friday and has accepted an outright assignment to AAA Tacoma.