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Dozier, Parra hit leadoff HRs in Twins-Crew tilt

MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers' 10-4 win over the Twins on Friday night began with a couple of bangs.

Minnesota's Brian Dozier and Milwaukee's Gerardo Parra became the second set of opponents to hit leadoff home runs in the same game this season, joining the Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson and Indians' Jason Kipnis on May 1 in Cleveland. According to STATS Inc., it was only the sixth such occurrence in the last five years, and the first in an Interleague game since a Red Sox-Marlins matchup in July 2006.

Dozier's homer was the 11th of his career leading off the game, and his fourth such blast this season. Parra's was the sixth of his career, and it was nearly pulled back by Twins center fielder Shane Robinson with a leaping catch. Instead, the baseball tipped off Robinson's glove and into the Brewers' bullpen.

"All I see is, it's a home run, you know?" Parra said. "I didn't see anything like that. I know he tried to catch the ball, but I don't know if the ball was [going to clear the wall]."

Robinson said it would have been a home run regardless.

It marked the third time in Brewers history that they teamed with their opponent for a pair of leadoff home runs, but the first that didn't involve Corey Hart. The former outfielder was part of similar moments in 2007 against the D-backs and in '11 against the Cardinals.

This time, the Brewers were just getting started. They scored six runs (five earned) in the first inning off right-hander Trevor May, who recorded only one out and committed a costly throwing error. Recently promoted prospect Alex Meyer took over and recorded the final two outs of the first inning, then surrendered four more runs in a second inning that included home runs for Aramis Ramirez and Scooter Gennett.

"Sometimes things are going to fall for the other team and you have to your best to limit the damage," May said. "I didn't limit any of it."

Two innings into the game, the Brewers were two runs shy of a season high.

"It's a good night," Counsell said. "We just jumped on them. We just executed early."

Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamMcCalvy, like him on Facebook and listen to his podcast.
Read More: Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Brian Dozier, Gerardo Parra