SB Nation Minnesota - Wild Finish Helps Twins Preserve Sweep Of Rangershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2010-09-05T20:41:57-05:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14322462010-09-05T20:41:57-05:002010-09-05T20:41:57-05:00Twins Strike Early, Hang On Late For 6-5 Victory
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<p>Michael Cuddyer and Denard Span each drove in a pair of runs and Minnesota survived a ninth-inning scare to take a 6-5 decision over Texas in the finale of a three-game series from Target Field.</p>
<p>Orlando Hudson and J.J. Hardy also collected an <span class="caps">RBI</span> each for the Twins, who swept the set from the AL West leaders and have won eight of their last 10 games.</p>
<p>Nick Blackburn (9-9) allowed six hits and two runs over seven solid innings, fanning four with three walks for Minnesota, which maintained its 3 1/2 game lead over Chicago in the AL Central after the White Sox topped Boston.</p>
<p>Matt Capps earned his ninth save despite allowing two runs to score and being charged with a run on three hits while recording the final out of the game.</p>
<p>“They’re a really good team. They took three out of four from us when we went to their place, a couple weeks ago,” said Hardy about the Rangers. "These weren’t easy games. Two of them were one-run ballgames. It was really nice to get out there and get that win today.</p>
<p>Matt Treanor drove in two while Julio Borbon, Cristian Guzman and Vladimir Guerrero added <span class="caps">RBI</span> hits in the ninth for the Rangers, who slid to their sixth loss in eight outings.</p>
<p>C.J. Wilson (14-6) was tagged in the loss for seven hits and six runs, striking out five but walking four over 5 1/3 frames.</p>
<p>Jon Rauch turned in a scoreless eighth but allowed an <span class="caps">RBI</span> double from Borbon with two down in the ninth and departed with a runner on second.</p>
<p>Capps was called upon but Guzman hit a run-scoring single for a 6-4 game. Young followed with a base hit and David Murphy walked to load the bases. Guerrero then sent a ball up the middle. It was fielded by Hudson behind second base and he threw to third behind Young, who was trying to go back to the base.</p>
<p>Although Guzman scored to make it a one-run game, Young was called out due to runners interference — incidental contact with Texas’ third-base coach — while rounding the bag.</p>
<p>“Who knows what (Nelson) Cruz would have done? Popped up, struck out, hit a triple? No one knows what would have happened with Cruz, but just to be given that opportunity would have been nice, see what happened,” said Texas infielder Ian Kinsler when asked what he thought might have occurred had the game not ended with the bizarre play.</p>
<p>Cudddyer’s two-run double in the first staked the Twins to the lead, then the Rangers countered in their next at-bat with a Treanor two-run single.</p>
<p>Minnesota got a run back in the home second as Hardy and Matt Tolbert both walked, Jason Repko beat out a bunt single and Span’s sacrifice fly plated the go-ahead run.</p>
<p>The home team put up three more runs in the sixth. Jason Kubel and Delmon Young stroked back-to-back singles then a Hardy hit plated one run. Repko walked two batters later to load the bases then Span also walked to force in a run and chase Wilson.</p>
<p>Michael Kirkman then allowed a sac fly from Hudson to make it 6-2 before retiring Joe Mauer on a fly out.</p>
<p>Blackburn finished his performance by sending the Rangers down in order in the sixth then working around a Guzman double in the seventh.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>Minnesota won seven of the 10 meetings with Texas this season, including a perfect 6-0 mark at home…The Rangers announced Sunday that outfielder Josh Hamilton will be out for an undetermined period of time while recovering from a bruised left ribcage suffered on Saturday…Both clubs are in action on Monday as the Twins stay home to host Kansas City while the Rangers head to Toronto to start a four-game set.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/9/5/1671876/twins-strike-early-hang-on-lateChristopher Gates2010-09-05T12:54:43-05:002010-09-05T12:54:43-05:00Twins Look For Sweep Of Rangers
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<p>Hoping to avoid a series sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Twins, the Texas Rangers may have the right pitcher on the mound today to accomplish that goal.</p>
<p>C.J. Wilson will attempt to register his eighth consecutive winning decision when he gets the call for Texas in Sunday’s finale of this three-game series between division leaders from Target Field. The converted reliever has been nothing short of sensational since the All-Star break, having amassed a 7-0 record and a 1.99 earned run average over nine second-half starts, while limiting the opposition to a .196 batting average.</p>
<p>Wilson has posted a 0.90 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in winning each of his last four outings, including a 4-3 decision over the Twins on August 25 in which he surrendered three runs (two earned) in six innings. The left-hander backed up that effort by firing 7 2/3 shutout frames to best Kansas City on Monday, with the Royals mustering a mere two hits off of him.</p>
<p>The 29-year-old hasn’t lost since July 11, but was dealt a defeat at Target Field back in May after being reached for five runs in six innings. For his career, Wilson is 1-2 with a 3.34 in 19 games against Minnesota, all but two of which have been in relief.</p>
<p>Wilson will also be trying to give the Rangers an elusive first-ever victory at first-year Target Field. After being swept in a three-game set in Minneapolis from May 28-30, Texas has dropped the first two tests of this series and was handed a 12-4 loss to the AL Central front-running Twins yesterday.</p>
<p>Jim Thome socked a pair of home runs, including a milestone three-run shot in the fourth inning, and finished with four <span class="caps">RBI</span> in Saturday’s rout, while Matt Tolbert knocked in a career-high five runs and tripled twice for Minnesota. J.J. Hardy also had a big day at the plate for the Twins, with the shortstop going 3-for-4 with two <span class="caps">RBI</span>.</p>
<p>Thome’s two long balls give the veteran slugger 584 over the course of his outstanding career and moved him past Mark McGwire for ninth place on baseball’s all-time list for that category. The 40-year-old is now two homers shy of matching Hall of Famer Frank Robinson for seventh place.</p>
<p>“It’s very humbling, but the main goal is where we’re at as a team,” said Thome when asked about passing McGwire. “If you can do something to help the team win as a group, it’s about that. It’s not about an individual.”</p>
<p>The Twins did receive a strong individual performance from pitcher Carl Pavano (16-10) in prevailing for the seventh time in their last nine games. The capable starter threw the first eight innings on Saturday and allowed three runs on eight hits to earn his 16th win of the season.</p>
<p>Texas’ Colby Lewis (9-12) wasn’t nearly as effective, permitting a whopping nine runs on eight hits before exiting after only 3 2/3 innings.</p>
<p>The Rangers have now lost five of their past seven contests following Saturday’s result. Although the club still holds an eight-game advantage on Oakland for first place in the AL West, it fell 3 1/2 games back of the Twins in the league standings, which could factor into playoff positioning in the future.</p>
<p>“We got to play better,” said second baseman Ian Kinsler, who went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in yesterday’s setback. “[Saturday] was a rough game. We’ve kind of done this the whole year, and we know we just have to play better.”</p>
<p>Minnesota also owns a 3 1/2-game lead on the second-place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central and will send Nick Blackburn to the hill for today’s finale. The right-hander had initially been slated to pitch Friday’s opener, but was pushed back after being forced into relief during a 13-inning clash with Detroit on Thursday.</p>
<p>Blackburn took the loss in that game after serving up a go-ahead homer to Gerald Laird in his lone inning of work, but was fantastic in his most recent starting assignment. That came in Seattle on August 28, with the 28-year-old allowing only two hits and coming one out away from earning his first career shutout.</p>
<p>This will Blackburn’s third start since returning from a near month-long stint in the minors, with his first coming against the Rangers in Arlington on August 23. He gave up three runs over a solid seven innings that night, but didn’t get any offensive support in a 4-0 loss.</p>
<p>The Oklahoma native is 0-2 with a 4.26 <span class="caps">ERA</span> over three career encounters with Texas, which took three of four meetings from the Twins at Rangers Ballpark last month.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/9/5/1671206/twins-look-for-sweep-of-rangersChristopher Gates2010-09-04T19:20:32-05:002010-09-04T19:20:32-05:00Thome's Two Homers Help Twins Blast Rangers 12-4
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<p>Jim Thome hit two homers to pass Mark McGwire for ninth place on the all-time home run list, and the Minnesota Twins pummeled the Texas Rangers, 12-4, at Target Field.
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<p>Thome now has 584 career home runs, which is one more than the former Athletics and Cardinals slugger. The powerful lefty drove in four runs and reached 20 homers for the 16th time in the last 17 seasons.</p>
<p>Next up for Thome is Frank Robinson, who is eighth all-time with 586 homers.</p>
<p>Matt Tolbert added two triples and a career-high five <span class="caps">RBI</span>, while J.J. Hardy hit a two-run double for the Twins, winners in four of five. Carl Pavano (16-10) helped the Twins maintain their four-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central after allowing three runs on eight hits in eight strong innings.</p>
<p>Chicago captured the first game against Boston in a doubleheader that continues later Saturday.</p>
<p>Ian Kinsler homered, while Julio Borbon hit a two-run double for the Rangers, who have lost 10 of 14 on the road but still hold a sizeable lead in the AL West. Colby Lewis (9-12) continued his struggles, allowing nine runs, eight hits and two walks in 3 2/3 frames. Lewis is now 0-7 in his last nine starts, not having won since July 16 at Boston.</p>
<p>Minnesota wasted no time jumping out to a big lead, scoring five times — all with two outs — in the opening inning. Denard Span worked a leadoff walk, and Orlando Hudson followed with a base hit to left. Two batters later, Thome worked a walk to load the bases with one out.</p>
<p>Delmon Young popped out, but the Twins’ two-out attack took over. Hardy doubled in a pair of runs, and Jason Repko was hit by a pitch to re-load the bases. Tolbert plated all three runners with a triple to right for a 5-0 advantage.</p>
<p>Thome gave the Twins a 6-0 lead with his homer leading off the third.</p>
<p>In the fourth, Span and Michael Cuddyer both singled ahead of Thome, who sent another blast to left-center for his 20th of the season, which gave Minnesota a commanding nine-run lead.</p>
<p>Mitch Moreland’s <span class="caps">RBI</span> single in the fifth put Texas on the board, and Borbon’s two-run double in the sixth got the Rangers to within 9-3.</p>
<p>Tolbert continued his career day with a two-run triple in the seventh and came around to score on a wild pitch for a 12-3 advantage.</p>
<p>Kinsler’s leadoff homer in the ninth accounted for the final margin.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>Thome recorded his 46th multi-homer game and the second this season…The Rangers still lead the season series, 5-4…Pavano snapped a three-start losing streak…Josh Hamilton (back) played for Texas after leaving Friday’s game and went 0-for-2 before being replaced by Borbon…The Twins have won six straight at home over Texas…Securing at least a series victory, Minnesota improved to 16-4-2 in series at home this season, including wins in eight of its last nine.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/9/4/1670283/thomes-two-homers-help-twins-blastChristopher Gates2010-09-04T12:43:54-05:002010-09-04T12:43:54-05:00Twins and Rangers Resume Series Saturday Afternoon
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<p>Target Field has been able to provide the Minnesota Twins with a distinct advantage in its first year of existence, something the current American League Central leaders would like to have during the first round of the playoffs.</p>
<p>Competing with West front-runner Texas for a probable home-field edge for the AL Division Series, Minnesota will try to further its lead on the Rangers in the standings when the two teams continue an important three-game series this afternoon in Minneapolis.</p>
<p>With both the No. 1 seed and the Wild Card likely to come out of the AL East, the Twins and Rangers are in essence battling to see who will host the Wild Card recipient in Game 1 of next month’s <span class="caps">ALDS</span> if both clubs manage to hold onto first place in their respective divisions. Minnesota now owns a 2 1/2- game cushion on Texas for that spot after last night’s 4-3 victory, the 14th for Ron Gardenhire’s squad in its last 17 home tilts.</p>
<p>Down 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Twins tied the contest on J.J. Hardy’s one-out single before Denard Span greeted Texas reliever Matt Harrison with a base hit that plated Jason Repko with the go-ahead run.</p>
<p>Matt Capps protected the one-run lead by working out of an eighth-inning jam and tossing a scoreless ninth to record his eighth save since coming over in a late-July trade from Washington. The Minnesota closer came on to strike out Nelson Cruz with runners at the corners and one out in the top of the eighth, then retired Ian Kinsler on a fielder’s choice to end the threat.</p>
<p>Capps got some help from his defense in the ninth, as Repko threw out Alex Cora trying to take third on a Julio Borbon single for the second out of the inning.</p>
<p>Alex Burnett (2-2) claimed the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of emergency starter Matt Fox, who held Texas to two runs and four hits over the first 5 2/3 frames in a solid major league debut. Both pitchers were called up from Triple-A Rochester prior to the game.</p>
<p>“Just to be able to help the team out and give them a chance to win was my goal coming in, and I was able to do that,” said Fox. “So it was a lot of fun.”</p>
<p>Texas starter Derek Holland (2-3) received the loss after being charged with four runs in 6 1/3 innings of work. The Rangers had given the young lefty a 3-2 lead when Kinsler singled to lead off the seventh, moved to second on a wild pitch, and later scored on Julio Borbon’s sacrifice bunt.</p>
<p>Minnesota is now an outstanding 43-23 at home this season and holds a four- game margin on second-place Chicago for the Central’s top spot. The White Sox’ game at Boston scheduled for Friday was postponed due to inclement weather.</p>
<p>The Twins will send out their top winner today in hopes of reeling in another victory. Carl Pavano comes into this afternoon’s test with 15 victories on the season, his highest total since 2004, although the oft-injured veteran has taken a loss in each of his past three mound trips.</p>
<p>One of those defeats took place against the Rangers on August 24, a 4-3 setback in Arlington in which Pavano threw an eight-inning complete game. He followed up by limiting Seattle to two runs and just five hits over seven frames this past Sunday, but wound up on the wrong side of a 2-1 verdict to the Mariners.</p>
<p>Pavano did best the Rangers at Target Field back in May by delivering seven innings of two-run ball and is 7-4 with a 3.95 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in 12 starts at his home park this year. The right-hander is just 1-3 with a suspect 7.62 <span class="caps">ERA</span> over five career matchups with Texas, however.</p>
<p>Colby Lewis opposed Pavano in that August 24 clash and will do so again for the Rangers today. The well-traveled right-hander got a no-decision that night after allowing three runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.</p>
<p>Lewis has endured some hard times during the second half of this season, though, having lost six consecutive decisions over an eight-start span after compiling a 9-5 record over the first 3 1/2 months. His last win occurred on July 16 at Boston, and the Rangers have scored two runs or fewer in all but one of those eight outings during his winless stretch.</p>
<p>The 31-year-old was his own worst enemy in Sunday’s start against Oakland, however, as Lewis surrendered a season-high seven runs (five earned) on eight hits — two of which were homers — over 5 2/3 innings of an 8-2 home loss to the Athletics.</p>
<p>Lewis is 0-2 with a 4.35 <span class="caps">ERA</span> over seven career appearances (three starts) against Minnesota and was the losing pitcher in a May 28 test at Target Field, even though he did give up only two runs and five hits in six innings.</p>
<p>He’ll be hoping to have teammate Josh Hamilton in the lineup this afternoon. The All-Star outfielder and current AL batting leader (.362) left Friday’s opener in the eighth inning with back stiffness, but is expected to be okay to start today.</p>
<p>The Rangers did take three of four games from the Twins in a series held in Arlington last month, but Minnesota has won all four meetings between the teams held in Minneapolis this season.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/9/4/1669583/twins-and-rangers-resume-seriesChristopher Gates2010-09-03T15:34:21-05:002010-09-03T15:34:21-05:00Twins And Rangers Open Series Tonight At Target Field
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<p>Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - <span>J.J. Hardy</span> and <span>Denard Span</span> had run-scoring singles in the seventh inning to put Minnesota in front, and the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Twins</a> held on for a 4-3 win over the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Texas Rangers</a> in the opener of a three-game series.</p>
<p>The battle between division leaders went to the Twins thanks to a solid start from <span>Matt Fox</span>, who made his major league debut and gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings.</p>
<p>"Just to be able to help the team out and give them a chance to win was my goal coming in, and I was able to do that," Fox said. "So it was a lot of fun."</p>
<p><span>Alex Burnett</span> (2-2) took the win after giving up a run in 1 1/3 relief innings, while <span>Matt Capps</span> recorded the final five outs for his eighth save.</p>
<p>Span finished with two hits for Minnesota, which expanded its lead in the AL Central to four games over the <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">White Sox</a>. Chicago's scheduled game Friday against Boston was postponed because of rain.</p>
<p>Texas starter <span>Derek Holland</span> (2-3) took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and a walk in 6 1/3 innings. He also struck out five for the AL West- leading Rangers, who were coming off a series win in Kansas City.</p>
<p>"We're going to leave it all out there, and I'm sure they're going to do the same thing," said Rangers third baseman <span>Michael Young</span>. "That's what makes the game so much fun. Obviously I would have liked to have a different outcome. Hopefully we'll get it tomorrow."</p>
<p><span>Josh Hamilton</span> had two hits for Texas but was taken out of the game for a pinch-runner in the eighth inning because of lower back stiffness, and is considered day-to-day.</p>
<p>Span opened the bottom of the first with a double and later scored on a <span>Joe Mauer</span> groundout to put the Twins on the scoreboard. <span>Mitch Moreland</span>'s sacrifice fly for the Rangers in the second made it a 1-1 game, and the contest remained tied after both teams scored a run in the sixth. <span>David Murphy</span> hit an RBI single for Texas, while <span>Michael Cuddyer</span> plated a run with a groundout.</p>
<p>The Rangers edged back in front in the seventh thanks to <span>Julio Borbon</span>'s bunt, which he executed with runners on the corners and one out.</p>
<p>But the Twins forged in front in the home half, when <span>Danny Valencia</span> singled with one away and <span>Jason Repko</span> followed with a walk. <span>Alexi Ogando</span> then entered in place of Holland and gave up the game-tying single to Hardy.</p>
<p>Hardy was the only batter Ogando faced, as <span>Matt Harrison</span> came in for a lefty- lefty matchup against Span. But the move didn't work, as Span singled to right to put Minnesota in front.</p>
<p>Texas had a chance to tie the game in the eighth after putting runners on first and third with one out. But Capps came in and struck out Nelson Cruz before getting <span>Ian Kinsler</span> to ground into a fielder's choice, ending the inning.</p>
<p>The Rangers threatened again in the ninth, when <span>Vladimir Guerrero</span> singled with one out. Pinch-runner <span>Alex Cora</span> attempted to go to third when Borbon followed with another base hit, but he was tagged out sliding into the base. Capps then retired <span>Elvis Andrus</span> to end the game.</p>
<p>Game Notes</p>
<p>Fox made the start in place of <span>Nick Blackburn</span>, who made a relief appearance during Thursday's 13-inning loss to Detroit...The Twins improved to 3-1 on their nine-game homestand...Minnesota leads the season series, 5-3.</p>
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https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/9/3/2320427/twins-and-rangers-open-series-tonight-at-target-fieldChristopher Gates