CLEVELAND -- Max Kepler had a good week Monday night.

"It was historic," said Minnesota Twins manager Paul Molitor.

Kepler was 4-for-6, with three home runs and six RBIs as the Minnesota Twins hit five home runs overall in a 12-5 rout of the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Kepler is the fifth player in Twins history to hit three home runs in a game, the first since Justin Morneau, on July 6, 2007, vs. the White Sox. The other Twins to do it: Bob Allison in 1963, Harmon Killebrew in 1963 and Tony Oliva in 1973.

"I'm honored to be in that group," said Kepler, who came into the game with 11 home runs and came out of it with 14.

"They were all line drives that went far. That's the way you want to hit the baseball," said Molitor.

Kepler hit a two-run homer off Danny Salazar in the first inning, and a two-run homer off Salazar in the third. He grounded out in the fourth, and hit a two-run homer off Cody Anderson in the sixth. In his fifth at bat in the eighth inning Kepler grounded out to first.

In that at bat, Kepler faced Andrew Miller, who was acquired by Cleveland on Sunday in a trade with the Yankees. Miller came in to start the eighth inning, and he began his Cleveland career by giving up a home run to the first batter he faced, Joe Mauer, who had four of the Twins' 19 hits.

Miller then retired Kepler on a ground ball and was replaced by Zach McAllister, who gave up a double to Kurt Suzuki and an RBI single by Eduardo Escobar.

Kepler got one more at bat, his sixth, in the ninth inning, against McAllister, and he singled.

"That was fun to watch. He's doing a nice job with his swing," said Molitor of his rookie's big night.

"I've hit two homers in a game in the minors, but never three," Kepler said. "It's a cool feeling. Really exciting."

In a meeting between two AL Central teams, the last-place Twins continued their dominance over the first-place Indians. Minnesota is 6-4 vs. Cleveland and 6-21 against the rest of the AL Central.

Twins starter Jose Berrios (2-1), recalled from Triple-A Rochester earlier in the day, pitched six innings, giving up three runs and four hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

"I just tried to be consistent and aggressive in the zone," said Berrios.

Salazar (11-4) gave up six runs in two innings, the shortest start of his major league career.

The Twins made quick work of Salazar, scoring eight runs in the first three innings. In the sixth inning, Mauer led off with a single. Kepler then blasted his third home run of the game, into the seats in right-center field to make it 10-3.

Berrios gave up three runs in the first innings, then went on a stretch in which he retired 15 batters in a row and 16 of the last 17 batters he faced.

Cleveland scored two runs in the eighth inning on a two-run home run by Mike Napoli, his 25th, off reliever Buddy Boshers.

Salazar, who was selected for the All-Star team and was one of the best starters in the league in the first half of the season, has struggled in the second half. In his last five starts he has a 7.88 ERA and has allowed 35 hits, including seven home runs, in 24 innings.

"He obviously doesn't look like himself, so we're going to get him looked at tomorrow," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He's not pitching in pain, but I think in the back of his mind he's worried about it. He doesn't look like someone who is hurt, but he'll get an MRI tomorrow. Hopefully it will show nothing and he can relax."

Salazar was in almost constant trouble in the two innings he pitched. With one out in the first inning Mauer walked and Kepler hit the first of his three home runs, giving the Twins a 2-0 lead.

The Indians countered with three runs in the bottom of the first, but the Twins got a solo home run from Eddie Rosario in the second inning, then scored five times in the third, two coming on Kepler's second home run.

NOTES: The Indians and Twins were busy on trade deadline day. The Indians acquired OF Brandon Guyer from Tampa Bay for two minor leaguers, OF Nathan Lukes and RHP Jhonleidder Salinas. . . To make room on the roster for Guyer, 3B Juan Uribe was designated for assignment, and manager Terry Francona said INF/OF Jose Ramirez will become the everyday third baseman. . . The Twins traded RHP Ricky Nolasco and RHP Alex Meyer to the Angels for LHP Hector Santiago and RHP Alan Busenitz. . . The Twins also traded LHP Fernando Abad to Boston for RHP Pat Light. . . To replace Abad on the roster the Twins recalled RHP Jose Berrios from Triple-A Rochester, and Berrios started the game on Monday night.