Borbon went 3 for 5 with three RBIs, and is hitting .536 (15 for 28) in seven starts since being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City while Cruz was hurt. Michael Young and Hank Blalock also had three hits for the Rangers, who snapped a two-game skid to remain within a game of Boston for the AL wild-card lead.
Cruz was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game after the All-Star slugger missed 15 games because of a sprained left ankle sustained while chasing a game-winning hit by Oakland's Rajai Davis on Aug. 3. His 26th homer leading off the sixth put the Rangers up 5-1.
Derek Holland (7-7) allowed one run in 5 1-3 innings to win his third straight start. The rookie left-hander got another needed victory for Texas after beating the Red Sox and AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels his previous two starts.
All four Texas homers came in 5 1-3 innings off rookie right-hander Anthony Swarzak (3-7), who gave up six runs to lose his fourth consecutive start.
Every Rangers starter had a hit in their last home game before playing nine games in a row and 15 of 19 on the road. The 17 hits were their most since having the same number May 30 against Oakland.
Holland was pulled with the bases loaded after three Twins singles in the sixth. Hard-throwing rookie Neftali Feliz needed only two pitches to induce an inning-ending double play grounder from Joe Crede.
Byrd, who has a career-high 14 homers, hit a solo shot in the second and a two-run blast to center an inning later to put the Rangers up 4-0. The left fielder also had a spectacular diving backhanded catch to end the Minnesota third.
The Twins overcame four-run deficits to win the previous two games, but not this time. Delmon Young hit the first pitch of the fifth over the left-field wall for Minnesota's only run.
Cruz's homer started a five-run sixth.
Swarzak was done after giving up a one-out walk to Taylor Teagarden. Bobby Keppel then allowed doubles to all three batters he faced, including Young, whose ball ricocheted off the top of the 14-foot high wall in left. Manager Ron Washington questioned if it was a homer, but umpires used video replay to confirm it was a double.
Byrd then added a sacrifice fly for his fourth RBI and a 9-1 lead.
Borbon pulled his homer down the right-field line in the third, and he had one of the doubles in the sixth off Keppel.
NOTES: The only time the Rangers (68-52) had more wins through 120 games was 1999, when they had 71 on their way to their last AL West title. … It was Byrd's third multihomer game in his career, the second this season. … Young has hit in 22 consecutive home games. That is one short of the Rangers Ballpark record of 23 in a row set by newly reacquired catcher Ivan Rodriguez in 1995. … Swarzak, who threw seven shutout innings in his major league debut for the Twins in May, has allowed 22 earned runs over 13 1-3 innings his last four starts. … The Twins said INF Matt Macri cleared waivers after being designated for assignment off the 40-man roster. Macri will return to Triple-A Rochester.