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TORONTO -- In the final few weeks of a forgettable season, Twins manager Paul Molitor doesnt want his players hanging their heads.Russell Martin and Justin Smoak each homered and drove in five runs as Toronto hammered Minnesota 15-8 Friday night, handing the Twins their eighth straight loss.Trevor Plouffe hit a solo homer for the last-place Twins. Minnesota has been tagged for at least eight runs in four straight games.The latest defeat came after Molitor took the tenor of his team with a pregame meeting.I told them its not a matter of me trying to convince them how many games we can win, Molitor said. I just talked about what was left on the table here over the last 35 games. Youre looking for guys to just step up and take the challenge head on.Even though the session didnt change Minnesotas fortunes, newly promoted pitcher Andrew Albers said he appreciated Molitors messageIts easy to get down when things arent going your way, Albers said. I thought the meeting was good. It was all about staying positive and trying to finish strong.Josh Donaldson, who drove in three runs, and Darwin Barney, who had three hits, also each homered for Toronto. The Blue Jays took a one-game lead in the AL East over Boston.The offense came to life and it was a big night, manager John Gibbons said.Francisco Liriano gave up four runs and two hits in five innings to win for the first time in four starts since Toronto got him a trade with Pittsburgh on Aug. 1. Liriano is 7-12 overall, and 3-1 in five career starts against Minnesota, his team from 2005 to 2012.Three of the four batters who walked against Liriano came around to score.I was a little bit wild today, Liriano said through a translator. Thank God that the offense hit the ball well today.Smoak connected off Pat Dean (1-4) in the second inning and Donaldson followed three batters later with his 30th.Starting in place of Hector Santiago (bruised left thumb), Dean allowed six runs and eight hits in three innings.Hes got to learn to continue to trust that he has to change speeds a little bit more, Molitor said. A lot of things coming in there around the same speed.Smoak also hit RBI singles in the third and seventh.He stepped up tonight, Gibbons said. A lot of the guys did.Barney homered off Albers to begin a four-run sixth for the Blue Jays. Martin capped the inning with a three-run double off Pat Light.Toronto batted around a second time in the seventh. Martin had the big blow again, a two-run homer off Ryan ORourke. Seven of Martins 15 home runs have come in his past 11 games.When those guys get hot, theyre tough, Albers said. You saw it all year last year. They can put up 12 or 15 against anybody. Before the game, Toronto got switch-hitting catcher Dioner Navarro in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, reacquiring a member of their 2015 AL East championship team.HOME AND NATIVE LANDAlbers, from Saskatchewan, made his first big league appearance in Canada. As a kid growing up, you always dream of pitching here one day, Albers said. Getting the opportunity to do that tonight was kind of a dream come true.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: 1B Joe Mauer (quadriceps) missed his third straight game. Hes expected to return Saturday. ... RHP Alex Wimmers was selected from Triple-A Rochester and made his major league debut with a scoreless eighth.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Ervin Santana (6-10, 3.39) struck out a season-high 10 batters in his previous start but took the loss against Kansas City.Blue Jays: RHP Marcus Stroman (9-5, 4.47) is 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA in four August starts, allowing six runs in 25 2/3 innings. Jacob Evans Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Cheap Warriors Jerseys . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. http://www.cheapwarriorsjerseysauthentic.com/ .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. Authentic Warriors Jerseys China . -- For the first time in two months, an opponent was standing up to Alabama. DeMarcus Cousins Jersey .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. MINNEAPOLIS -- The Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves had a combined record of 5-16 heading into their game on Thursday night, which may not seem an ideal matchup to be featured on TNT.But the network folks understand that these two long-suffering franchises boast some of the most intriguing young talent in the league. And the Timberwolves showed just how much further along they are in the rebuilding process.Andrew Wiggins had 35 points, 10 rebounds and four assists to lead the Timberwolves to a 110-86 victory over the 76ers.Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and 10 rebounds and Gorgui Dieng added 12 points and 10 boards for the Wolves (4-7). The Wolves shot 50.6 percent and avoided the poor third quarter that had plagued them this season.I think that theyre a lot further ahead for all the obvious reasons, and its not a lack of respect or disservice to our guys at all, Sixers coach Brett Brown said. This group that youre looking at played with each other all last year, many, many, many, many games together.Joel Embiid had 10 points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes after sitting out the front end of Philadelphias back-to-back on Wednesday night. Dario Saric led the way with 16 points, but the 76ers lost their 21st straight road game.Theyre young and theyre still going to get better, and thats where weve got to get to, Embiid said. When you learn how to play with each other, its easier to play.Wiggins made 14 of 20 shots, including 3 of 6 3-pointers. The Wolves had been outscored by a league-worst 91 points in 10 third quarters this season, but they led by 28 at halftime on Thursday night, rendering a minus-1 in this game moot.At times last year I would drift to the corner and stay there, Wiggins said. Im just being more active. My awareness is higher. Im doing more.In a matchup of two of the best young big men in the league, Towns blew past Embiid to throw down a ferocious dunk in the fourth quarter to get the crowd on its feet. He made 12 of 18 shots.TIP-INS76ers: The last time the Sixers won a road gamee was Jan.dddddddddddd 20 at Orlando. ... Nik Stauskas had 13 points and five rebounds. ... Philly scored just 33 points on 31 percent shooting, tied for its lowest scoring output of the season.Timberwolves: Wiggins entered the game leading the NBA in 3-point shooting at 55 percent. ... F Shabazz Muhammad (sore right knee) and G/F Brandon Rush (right big toe) were both out again.NERVOUS FANSEmbiid missed the first two seasons after being drafted because of foot problems, and even in visiting arenas there is an audible gasp every time the 7-foot center falls to the court. He got tangled with Ricky Rubio early in the first quarter and appeared to be clutching his left ankle as he went to the bench. He was able to return in the second quarter, much to the relief of NBA fans everywhere.He waited so long to actually play and now hes dominating, said Wiggins, who was college teammates with Embiid at Kansas. Hes playing short minutes, but hes still getting numbers and playing really good.Embiid hit the deck again in the fourth when Wolves forward Adreian Payne threw him down while wrestling for a rebound. Payne was given a technical foul.GOOD CROWDThe Wolves announced attendance of 16,866, easily the largest of the year. It came one game after the arena was half-empty for a game against Charlotte. The low attendance early has been a troubling sign for an organization that was hoping to turn the corner this season.The Wolves targeted this game and select others to cluster their group tickets in hopes of padding attendance. They also offered season ticket holders two free additional tickets to the game to try to get more fans, which have been slow to spend their money this season thanks to Minnesotas 3-7 start, out to the game.UP NEXT76ers: Head back home to host Phoenix on Saturday.Timberwolves: Hit the road after a four-game home stand to face Memphis for the third time already this season. ' ' '