AL: TEXAS (70-79) at MINNESOTA (72-77) <h3>Twins hope to stop slide against Rangers</h3> <div class="pre">Texas (70-79) at Minnesota (72-77) 8:10 pm EDT</div> MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - It has been a while since the MinnesotaTwins' fans were treated to a victory. The Twins will look to end a seven-game home losing streak whenthey host the Texas Rangers in the opener of a three-game seriesMonday. Minnesota, which has taken the American League Central crownfour of the last five years, was swept by both the DetroitTigers and the Cleveland Indians in its most recent home sets. Twins rookie righthander Kevin Slowey (3-0, 5.44 ERA) gets thestart for the first time since September 4. In just 10 outings- eight starts - this season, Slowey has been burned by the homerun, surrendering 16 of them. The Rangers will counter with Edison Volquez (2-1, 4.24), whowill hope to bounce back from his worst start of the year. TheDominican righthander was tagged for five runs and seven hitswith four walks in a 5-1 setback to the Tigers on Wednesday. Texas snapped a five-game losing streak Sunday with an 11-9 winover the Oakland Athletics.
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">TEXAS AT MINNESOTA -- LINEUPS TEXAS MINNESOTA AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Frank Catalanotto DH .272 10 43 Jason Bartlett SS .271 5 42 David Murphy CF .389 2 11 Jason Kubel DH .263 11 60 Michael Young SS .313 8 83 Joe Mauer C .290 5 54 Marlon Byrd RF .306 9 63 Torii Hunter CF .290 28 101 Jason Botts LF .240 2 13 Justin Morneau 1B .277 30 107 Brad Wilkerson 1B .236 20 62 Michael Cuddyer RF .271 13 73 Guillermo Quiroz C .500 0 1 Garrett Jones LF .164 0 2 Ramon Vazquez 2B .238 8 27 Brian Buscher 3B .288 2 7 Travis Metcalf 3B .238 2 15 Nick Punto 2B .205 1 23 Edinson Volquez RHP (2-1, 4.24) Kevin Slowey RHP (3-0, 5.44)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA WARMUPS: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ (2-1, 4.24) MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY (3-0, 5.44) UMPIRES: HP - JOHN HIRSCHBECK 1B - JEFF NELSON 2B - MIKE DIMURO 3B - BILL WELKE WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA STARTING BATS: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ AND GUILLERMO QUIROZ MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY AND JOE MAUER DUE UP FOR TEXAS: F CATALANOT (.272, 10 HR, 43 RBI) D MURPHY (.389, 2 HR, 11 RBI) M YOUNG (.313, 8 HR, 83 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 1 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J BARTLETT (.271, 5 HR, 42 RBI) J KUBEL (.263, 11 HR, 60 RBI) J MAUER (.290, 5 HR, 54 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .272 D Murphy cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .384 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 M Byrd rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .305 J Botts lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240 B Wilkerson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 G Quiroz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 R Vazquez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Totals 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 G Jones lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .164 B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (26, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 0 -- 0 MINNESOTA - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era E Volquez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.24 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era K Slowey 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 5.33 Pitches-strikes: K Slowey 26-17. Ground balls-fly balls: K Slowey 1-0. Batters faced: K Slowey 4. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA CONFIRMED STARTERS: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 1 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J BOTTS (.240, 2 HR, 13 RBI) B WILKERSON (.236, 20 HR, 62 RBI) G QUIROZ (.500, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .272 D Murphy cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .384 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 M Byrd rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .305 J Botts lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240 B Wilkerson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 G Quiroz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500 R Vazquez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Totals 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 G Jones lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .164 B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (26, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 0 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era E Volquez 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.00 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era K Slowey 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 5.33 Pitches-strikes: E Volquez 12-7; K Slowey 26-17. Ground balls-fly balls: E Volquez 0-2; K Slowey 1-0. Batters faced: E Volquez 3; K Slowey 4. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 1 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 1 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.290, 28 HR, 101 RBI) J MORNEAU (.277, 30 HR, 107 RBI) M CUDDYER (.271, 13 HR, 73 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .272 D Murphy cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .384 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 M Byrd rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .305 J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 G Quiroz c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .667 R Vazquez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238 T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Totals 8 0 1 0 0 3 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 G Jones lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .164 B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (26, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 00 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era E Volquez 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.00 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era K Slowey 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 5.22 Pitches-strikes: E Volquez 12-7; K Slowey 44-30. Ground balls-fly balls: E Volquez 0-2; K Slowey 2-1. Batters faced: E Volquez 3; K Slowey 8. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE ERROR BY GUILLERMO QUIROZ ALLOWED TORII HUNTER TO SCORE. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M CUDDYER ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0 MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: G JONES (.164, 0-FOR-0)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 1 1 MINNESOTA 0 1 1 0 1 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY DUE UP FOR TEXAS: T METCALF (.238, 2 HR, 15 RBI) F CATALANOTTO (.272, 0-FOR-1) D MURPHY (.384, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS MINNESOTA (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .272 D Murphy cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .384 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 M Byrd rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .305 J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 G Quiroz c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .667 R Vazquez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238 T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Totals 8 0 1 0 0 3 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: E - G Quiroz (1, throw). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289 T Hunter cf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .290 J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .276 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .271 G Jones lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .161 B Buscher 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .283 N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205 Totals 6 1 0 0 1 3 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Buscher 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - T Hunter (16, 3rd base off E Volquez/G Quiroz), M Cuddyer (4, 2nd base off E Volquez/G Quiroz). FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (26, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 00 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 01 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era E Volquez 2 0 1 1 1 3 0 4.26 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era K Slowey 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 5.22 HBP - T Hunter (by E Volquez). Pitches-strikes: E Volquez 34-16; K Slowey 44-30. Ground balls-fly balls: E Volquez 0-3; K Slowey 2-1. Batters faced: E Volquez 8; K Slowey 8. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MICHAEL YOUNG SCORED TRAVIS METCALF. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M YOUNG ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1 MINNESOTA 1 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M BYRD (.305, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 1 1 3 1 MINNESOTA 0 1 1 0 1 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: N PUNTO (.205, 1 HR, 23 RBI) J BARTLETT (.270, 0-FOR-1) J KUBEL (.262, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">TEXAS (1) VS MINNESOTA (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .271 D Murphy cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .378 M Young ss 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .313 M Byrd rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .304 J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 G Quiroz c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .667 R Vazquez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238 T Metcalf 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .244 Totals 13 1 3 1 0 4 5 BATTING: 2B - T Metcalf (12, K Slowey). RBI - M Young (84). 2-out RBI - M Young. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: E - G Quiroz (1, throw). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .289 T Hunter cf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .290 J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .276 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .271 G Jones lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .161 B Buscher 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .283 N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205 Totals 6 1 0 0 1 3 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Buscher 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - T Hunter (16, 3rd base off E Volquez/G Quiroz), M Cuddyer (4, 2nd base off E Volquez/G Quiroz). FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (26, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 001 -- 1 MINNESOTA - 01 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era E Volquez 2 0 1 0 1 3 0 3.79 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era K Slowey 3 3 1 1 0 4 0 5.29 HBP - T Hunter (by E Volquez). Pitches-strikes: E Volquez 34-16; K Slowey 65-47. Ground balls-fly balls: E Volquez 0-3; K Slowey 2-3. Batters faced: E Volquez 8; K Slowey 13. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 1 1 3 1 MINNESOTA 0 1 0 1 1 1 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J BOTTS (.238, 0-FOR-1) B WILKERSON (.235, 0-FOR-1) G QUIROZ (.667, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">TEXAS (1) VS MINNESOTA (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .271 D Murphy cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .378 M Young ss 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .313 M Byrd rf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .304 J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 G Quiroz c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .667 R Vazquez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .238 T Metcalf 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .244 Totals 13 1 3 1 0 4 5 BATTING: 2B - T Metcalf (12, K Slowey). RBI - M Young (84). 2-out RBI - M Young. Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: E - G Quiroz (1, throw). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270 J Kubel dh 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .264 J Mauer c 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .289 T Hunter cf 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .290 J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .276 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .271 G Jones lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .161 B Buscher 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .283 N Punto 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .205 Totals 10 1 1 0 1 4 4 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Buscher 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - T Hunter (16, 3rd base off E Volquez/G Quiroz), M Cuddyer (4, 2nd base off E Volquez/G Quiroz). FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (26, ground ball). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 001 -- 1 MINNESOTA - 010 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era E Volquez 3 1 1 0 1 4 0 3.60 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era K Slowey 3 3 1 1 0 4 0 5.29 HBP - T Hunter (by E Volquez). Pitches-strikes: E Volquez 57-30; K Slowey 65-47. Ground balls-fly balls: E Volquez 0-5; K Slowey 2-3. Batters faced: E Volquez 12; K Slowey 13. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Bill Welke. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 1 0 1 3 1 MINNESOTA 0 1 0 1 1 1 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.290, 0-FOR-0, HBP) J MORNEAU (.276, 0-FOR-1) M CUDDYER (.271, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
