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Delmon Young also homered and had an RBI double in the seventh to help the Twins score more runs than they did in their previous three games combined in Toronto.
It was the fourth-career grand slam for the former AL MVP, and second this season. The shot gave Minnesota a five-run lead in the fifth inning.
Liriano (5-3) had a season-high nine strikeouts and improved to 5-0 since returning to the Twins lineup last month. In April, the 24-year-old lefty gave up 13 runs in three starts before being sent to the minors to shake off the rust after recovering from Tommy John surgery. But in his seven starts since being called back up, Liriano has surrendered only eight runs.
He did give up two homers, though, both to Marcus Thames before leaving in the eighth with runners at first and second with no outs. Jesse Crain relieved without further damage and Boof Bonser pitched a scoreless ninth.
Armando Galarraga (12-5), who allowed only three hits but struggled with his control early, walked the bases loaded for the second time of the night in the fifth before Morneau’s grand slam gave Minnesota a 6-1 lead.
The Twins added four more in the seventh when Joe Mauer’s RBI single drove in Alexi Casilla, Young doubled to left to score Mauer, and Brian Buscher added a two-run single.
Galarraga lasted six innings, walking a season-high six batters while striking out four.
Notes: Galarraga’s previous season-high for walks was five. ... Twins RF Michael Cuddyer (broken left foot) is running on an underwater treadmill and hopes to try jogging on the field in 10 days, but returning before the regular season does not appear likely. “My focus is just on getting healthy,” Cuddyer said. ... 3B Carlos Guillen (back) is not on the trip with the Tigers. He hasn’t played since Aug. 25.
