AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: I Kinsler hit for R Vazquez. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 3 MINNESOTA 3 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I Kinsler (.267, 19 HR, 57 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY TRAVIS METCALF (3) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 1 OUT IN THE 9TH OFF JOE NATHAN. CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4, MINNESOTA 3 DUE UP FOR TEXAS: F CATALANOTTO (.269, 0-FOR-4)</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 0 0 2 0 1 4 7 1 MINNESOTA 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 7 2 (BOT 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - C.J. WILSON MIN - JOE NATHAN DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.272, 1-FOR-2, BB) L FORD (.232, 0-FOR-0, BB) B BUSCHER (.273, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">TEXAS (4) VS MINNESOTA (3) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto dh 5 0 0 0 0 1 1 .268 D Murphy cf 5 0 0 0 0 2 2 .364 M Young ss 4 0 1 1 0 2 0 .312 M Byrd rf-lf 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .305 J Botts lf 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .234 N Cruz pr-rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 B Wilkerson 1b 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 .237 G Quiroz c 4 1 2 1 0 2 2 .500 R Vazquez 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .236 a-I Kinsler ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267 T Metcalf 3b 4 2 2 1 0 0 1 .246 Totals 36 4 7 3 2 12 11 a-struck out swinging for R Vazquez in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - T Metcalf (12, K Slowey). HR - T Metcalf (3, 9th inning off J Nathan 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Young (84), G Quiroz (2), T Metcalf (16). 2-out RBI - M Young. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Quiroz 1, D Murphy 1. Team LOB - 7. BASERUNNING: SB - B Wilkerson (4, 2nd base off J Rincon/J Mauer). FIELDING: E - G Quiroz (1, throw). Outfield assists - M Byrd (L Ford at 1st base). DP: 2 (R Vazquez-M Young-B Wilkerson, M Byrd-B Wilkerson). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 .273 J Kubel dh 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .264 b-L Rodriguez ph-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 J Mauer c 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .290 T Hunter cf 3 1 1 1 0 1 0 .290 J Morneau 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .275 M Cuddyer rf 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .272 G Jones lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .158 a-L Ford ph-lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .232 B Buscher 3b 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 .273 N Punto 2b 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .206 Totals 28 3 7 2 2 8 10 a-walked for G Jones in the 7th; b-sacrificed to pitcher for J Kubel in the 8th. BATTING: HR - J Mauer (6, 6th inning off E Volquez 0 on, 0 Out). S - L Rodriguez. RBI - J Mauer (55), T Hunter (102). 2-out RBI - T Hunter. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1, B Buscher 1. GIDP - J Kubel. Team LOB - 5. BASERUNNING: SB - T Hunter 2 (17, 2nd base off C Wilson/G Quiroz, 3rd base off E Volquez/G Quiroz), M Cuddyer (4, 2nd base off E Volquez/G Quiroz). FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (26, ground ball); J Rincon (1, throw). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 001 000 201 -- 4 MINNESOTA - 010 001 01 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era E Volquez 6 5 2 1 1 6 1 3.52 B White 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 5.06 C Wilson 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.14 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era K Slowey 6 4 1 1 0 7 0 5.00 J Rincon 1 2 2 1 0 0 0 5.46 M Guerrier 1 0 0 0 2 3 0 2.26 J Nathan 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 2.07 HBP - T Hunter (by E Volquez). Pitches-strikes: E Volquez 105-59; B White 15-8; C Wilson 15-10; K Slowey 105-74; J Rincon 22-15; M Guerrier 26-13; J Nathan 19-12. Ground balls-fly balls: E Volquez 5-7; B White 0-1; C Wilson 2-0; K Slowey 2-9; J Rincon 3-1; M Guerrier 0-0; J Nathan 1-0. Batters faced: E Volquez 24; B White 3; C Wilson 5; K Slowey 23; J Rincon 6; M Guerrier 5; J Nathan 4. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Bill Welke. EJECTIONS: MINNESOTA's Gardenhire by Nelson (8th). Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: I Kinsler at second base. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4 MINNESOTA 3 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M Cuddyer (.272, 1-FOR-2)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE TEX: JOAQUIN BENOIT (7-3, 2.56) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4, MINNESOTA 3 DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.272, 1-FOR-2)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Benoit relieved C Wilson. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4 MINNESOTA 3 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M Cuddyer (.272, 1-FOR-2)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY MICHAEL CUDDYER (14) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE 9TH OFF JOAQUIN BENOIT. CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4, MINNESOTA 4 DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L FORD (.232, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE ERROR BY IAN KINSLER ALLOWED LEW FORD TO SCORE. FINAL SCORE: MINNESOTA 5, TEXAS 4</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 4 7 2 MINNESOTA 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 5 8 2 (FINAL) BATTERIES: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ, BILL WHITE (7TH), C.J. WILSON (8TH), JOAQUIN BENOIT (9TH) AND GUILLERMO QUIROZ MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY, JUAN RINCON (7TH), MATT GUERRIER (8TH), JOE NATHAN (9TH) AND JOE MAUER HOME RUNS: TEX - TRAVIS METCALF (3) OFF JOE NATHAN IN THE 9TH, 0 ON MIN - JOE MAUER (6) OFF EDINSON VOLQUEZ IN THE 6TH, 0 ON MICHAEL CUDDYER (14) OFF JOAQUIN BENOIT IN THE 9TH, 0 ON</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 4 7 2 MINNESOTA 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 5 8 2 (FINAL) BATTERIES: TEX - EDINSON VOLQUEZ, BILL WHITE (7TH), C.J. WILSON (8TH), JOAQUIN BENOIT (9TH) AND GUILLERMO QUIROZ MIN - KEVIN SLOWEY, JUAN RINCON (7TH), MATT GUERRIER (8TH), JOE NATHAN (9TH) AND JOE MAUER WP - JOE NATHAN (4-2) LP - JOAQUIN BENOIT (7-4) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: TEX - TRAVIS METCALF (3) OFF JOE NATHAN IN THE 9TH, 0 ON MIN - JOE MAUER (6) OFF EDINSON VOLQUEZ IN THE 6TH, 0 ON MICHAEL CUDDYER (14) OFF JOAQUIN BENOIT IN THE 9TH, 0 ON TIME: 3:12 ATT: 14,197 PROBABLES: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD (9-12, 5.51) MIN - CARLOS SILVA (11-14, 4.44)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">TEXAS (4) VS MINNESOTA (5) - FINAL TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg F Catalanotto dh 5 0 0 0 0 1 1 .268 D Murphy cf 5 0 0 0 0 2 2 .364 M Young ss 4 0 1 1 0 2 0 .312 M Byrd rf-lf 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .305 J Botts lf 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .234 N Cruz pr-rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 B Wilkerson 1b 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 .237 G Quiroz c 4 1 2 1 0 2 2 .500 R Vazquez 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .236 a-I Kinsler ph-2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .267 T Metcalf 3b 4 2 2 1 0 0 1 .246 Totals 36 4 7 3 2 12 11 a-struck out swinging for R Vazquez in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - T Metcalf (12, K Slowey). HR - T Metcalf (3, 9th inning off J Nathan 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Young (84), G Quiroz (2), T Metcalf (16). 2-out RBI - M Young. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - G Quiroz 1, D Murphy 1. Team LOB - 7. BASERUNNING: SB - B Wilkerson (4, 2nd base off J Rincon/J Mauer). FIELDING: E - G Quiroz (1, throw); I Kinsler (15, pop up). Outfield assists - M Byrd (L Ford at 1st base). DP: 2 (R Vazquez-M Young-B Wilkerson, M Byrd-B Wilkerson). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg J Bartlett ss 5 1 2 0 0 0 1 .272 J Kubel dh 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .264 b-L Rodriguez ph-dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 J Mauer c 4 1 1 1 0 1 1 .290 T Hunter cf 3 1 1 1 0 1 0 .290 J Morneau 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 2 .275 M Cuddyer rf 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .273 G Jones lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .158 a-L Ford ph-lf 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 .232 B Buscher 3b 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 .273 N Punto 2b 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .205 Totals 31 5 8 3 3 9 12 a-walked for G Jones in the 7th; b-sacrificed to pitcher for J Kubel in the 8th. BATTING: HR - J Mauer (6, 6th inning off E Volquez 0 on, 0 Out), M Cuddyer (14, 9th inning off J Benoit 0 on, 0 Out). S - L Rodriguez , B Buscher. RBI - J Mauer (55), T Hunter (102), M Cuddyer (74). 2-out RBI - T Hunter. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1, B Buscher 1. GIDP - J Kubel. Team LOB - 6. BASERUNNING: SB - T Hunter 2 (17, 2nd base off C Wilson/G Quiroz, 3rd base off E Volquez/G Quiroz), M Cuddyer (4, 2nd base off E Volquez/G Quiroz). FIELDING: E - J Bartlett (26, ground ball); J Rincon (1, throw). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 001 000 201 -- 4 MINNESOTA - 010 001 012 -- 5 Two outs when winning run scored. ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era E Volquez 6 5 2 1 1 6 1 3.52 B White (H, 2) 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 5.06 C Wilson (B, 2) 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.14 J Benoit (L, 7-4; B, 5) 2/3 1 2 1 1 1 1 2.65 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era K Slowey 6 4 1 1 0 7 0 5.00 J Rincon (B, 2) 1 2 2 1 0 0 0 5.46 M Guerrier 1 0 0 0 2 3 0 2.26 J Nathan (W, 4-2) 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 2.07 HBP - T Hunter (by E Volquez). Pitches-strikes: E Volquez 105-59; B White 15-8; C Wilson 15-10; J Benoit 22-14; K Slowey 105-74; J Rincon 22-15; M Guerrier 26-13; J Nathan 19-12. Ground balls-fly balls: E Volquez 5-7; B White 0-1; C Wilson 2-0; J Benoit 1-0; K Slowey 2-9; J Rincon 3-1; M Guerrier 0-0; J Nathan 1-0. Batters faced: E Volquez 24; B White 3; C Wilson 5; J Benoit 5; K Slowey 23; J Rincon 6; M Guerrier 5; J Nathan 4. UMPIRES: HP--John Hirschbeck. 1B--Jeff Nelson. 2B--Mike Dimuro. 3B--Bill Welke. EJECTIONS: MINNESOTA's Gardenhire by Nelson (8th). T--3:12. Att--14,197. Weather: INDOORS</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS (4) AT MINNESOTA (5) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MINNESOTA 2ND: T Hunter hit by pitch. J Morneau struck out looking. M Cuddyer walked, T Hunter to second. T Hunter stole third, M Cuddyer stole second, T Hunter scored, M Cuddyer safe at third on throwing error by catcher G Quiroz. G Jones popped out to third. B Buscher struck out swinging. (1 Run, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1. TEXAS 3RD: T Metcalf doubled to deep right. F Catalanotto fouled out to third. D Murphy flied out to left. M Young singled to left, T Metcalf scored. M Byrd struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 1. MINNESOTA 6TH: J Mauer homered to left center. T Hunter struck out swinging. J Morneau grounded out to shortstop. M Cuddyer grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 2. TEXAS 7TH: J Rincon relieved K Slowey. B Wilkerson reached on bunt single to pitcher. B Wilkerson stole second. G Quiroz singled to right, B Wilkerson scored, G Quiroz to second advancing on throw. R Vazquez bunt grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, G Quiroz scored, R Vazquez to second on throwing error by pitcher J Rincon. T Metcalf bunt popped out foul to catcher. F Catalanotto grounded out to first, R Vazquez to third. D Murphy grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 3, MINNESOTA 2. MINNESOTA 8TH: M Byrd in left field. N Cruz in right field. C Wilson relieved B White. J Bartlett reached on infield single to second. Minnesota's Manager R Gardenhire ejected by J Nelson. L Rodriguez hit for J Kubel. L Rodriguez sacrificed to pitcher, J Bartlett to second. J Mauer grounded out to shortstop, J Bartlett to third. T Hunter singled to left, J Bartlett scored. T Hunter stole second. J Morneau struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, MINNESOTA 3. TEXAS 9TH: J Nathan relieved M Guerrier. I Kinsler hit for R Vazquez. I Kinsler struck out swinging. T Metcalf homered to left center. F Catalanotto grounded out to shortstop. D Murphy struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, MINNESOTA 3. MINNESOTA 9TH: I Kinsler at second base. J Benoit relieved C Wilson. M Cuddyer homered to left. L Ford walked. B Buscher sacrificed to third, L Ford to second. N Punto struck out swinging. J Bartlett safe at first on error by second baseman I Kinsler, L Ford scored. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TEXAS 4, MINNESOTA 5.</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS (4) AT MINNESOTA (5) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Texas Starting Lineups -- F Catalanotto DH, D Murphy CF, M Young SS, M Byrd RF, J Botts LF, B Wilkerson 1B, G Quiroz C, R Vazquez 2B, T Metcalf 3B, E Volquez RHP. Minnesota Starting Lineups -- J Bartlett SS, J Kubel DH, J Mauer C, T Hunter CF, J Morneau 1B, M Cuddyer RF, G Jones LF, B Buscher 3B, N Punto 2B, K Slowey RHP. Umpires -- John Hirschbeck (HP), Jeff Nelson (1B), Mike Dimuro (2B), Bill Welke (3B). Gametime Weather: INDOORS. TEXAS 1ST: F Catalanotto struck out looking. D Murphy struck out swinging. M Young safe at first on error by shortstop J Bartlett. M Byrd grounded into fielder's choice to third, M Young out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 1ST: J Bartlett flied out to right. J Kubel flied out to left. J Mauer struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0. TEXAS 2ND: J Botts grounded out to shortstop. B Wilkerson struck out swinging. G Quiroz singled to center. R Vazquez popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 2ND: T Hunter hit by pitch. J Morneau struck out looking. M Cuddyer walked, T Hunter to second. T Hunter stole third, M Cuddyer stole second, T Hunter scored, M Cuddyer safe at third on throwing error by catcher G Quiroz. G Jones popped out to third. B Buscher struck out swinging. (1 Run, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1. TEXAS 3RD: T Metcalf doubled to deep right. F Catalanotto fouled out to third. D Murphy flied out to left. M Young singled to left, T Metcalf scored. M Byrd struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 1. MINNESOTA 3RD: N Punto struck out swinging. J Bartlett flied out to left. J Kubel singled to right. J Mauer flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 1. TEXAS 4TH: J Botts popped out to shortstop. B Wilkerson flied out to left. G Quiroz struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 1. MINNESOTA 4TH: T Hunter grounded out to third. J Morneau flied out to center. M Cuddyer reached on infield single to second. G Jones flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 1. TEXAS 5TH: R Vazquez fouled out to third. T Metcalf flied out to center. F Catalanotto popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 1. MINNESOTA 5TH: B Buscher struck out looking. N Punto reached on bunt single to pitcher. J Bartlett singled to right, N Punto to third. J Kubel grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Bartlett out at second.(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 1. TEXAS 6TH: D Murphy flied out to right. M Young struck out swinging. M Byrd singled to center. J Botts struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 1. MINNESOTA 6TH: J Mauer homered to left center. T Hunter struck out swinging. J Morneau grounded out to shortstop. M Cuddyer grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 2. TEXAS 7TH: J Rincon relieved K Slowey. B Wilkerson reached on bunt single to pitcher. B Wilkerson stole second. G Quiroz singled to right, B Wilkerson scored, G Quiroz to second advancing on throw. R Vazquez bunt grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, G Quiroz scored, R Vazquez to second on throwing error by pitcher J Rincon. T Metcalf bunt popped out foul to catcher. F Catalanotto grounded out to first, R Vazquez to third. D Murphy grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 3, MINNESOTA 2. MINNESOTA 7TH: B White relieved E Volquez. L Ford hit for G Jones. L Ford walked. B Buscher struck out looking. N Punto flied into double play, right to first, L Ford doubled off first.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, MINNESOTA 2. TEXAS 8TH: L Ford in left field. M Guerrier relieved J Rincon. M Young struck out swinging. M Byrd struck out swinging. J Botts walked. N Cruz ran for J Botts. B Wilkerson walked, N Cruz to second. G Quiroz struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, MINNESOTA 2. MINNESOTA 8TH: M Byrd in left field. N Cruz in right field. C Wilson relieved B White. J Bartlett reached on infield single to second. Minnesota's Manager R Gardenhire ejected by J Nelson. L Rodriguez hit for J Kubel. L Rodriguez sacrificed to pitcher, J Bartlett to second. J Mauer grounded out to shortstop, J Bartlett to third. T Hunter singled to left, J Bartlett scored. T Hunter stole second. J Morneau struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 3, MINNESOTA 3. TEXAS 9TH: J Nathan relieved M Guerrier. I Kinsler hit for R Vazquez. I Kinsler struck out swinging. T Metcalf homered to left center. F Catalanotto grounded out to shortstop. D Murphy struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, MINNESOTA 3. MINNESOTA 9TH: I Kinsler at second base. J Benoit relieved C Wilson. M Cuddyer homered to left. L Ford walked. B Buscher sacrificed to third, L Ford to second. N Punto struck out swinging. J Bartlett safe at first on error by second baseman I Kinsler, L Ford scored. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TEXAS 4, MINNESOTA 5.</div>
Twins use ninth-inning comeback to top Rangers <h3>MINNESOTA 5, TEXAS 4</h3>By Anthony Maggio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Michael Cuddyer hit a game-tying homerand Lew Ford scored the winning run on a throwing error as theMinnesota Twins used a ninth-inning comeback en route to a 5-4victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night. Joe Mauer also homered for the Twins, who snapped a four-gamelosing streak. Joaquin Benoit could not hold a one-run lead in the ninth,allowing Cuddyer to tie the game with a leadoff blast. After a walk to Lew Ford, a sacrifice and Nick Punto'sstrikeout, Jason Bartlett's ground ball was thrown away bysecond baseman Ian Kinsler - scoring Ford from second with thewinning run. Rookie Travis Hafner's third homer of the season - off Minnesotacloser Joe Nathan (4-2) - provided Texas a 4-3 lead in theninth. Rangers starter Edinson Volquez lasted six innings and matchedhis career high with six strikeouts to give the Rangers theirsecond straight victory and extend Minnesota's losing streak tofive games. Minnesota starter Kevin Slowey yielded a run and four hits insix frames with no walks and seven strikeouts.
Twins use ninth-inning comeback to top Rangers <h3>MINNESOTA 5, TEXAS 4</h3>By Anthony Maggio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Michael Cuddyer hit a game-tying homerand Lew Ford scored the winning run on a throwing error as theMinnesota Twins used a ninth-inning comeback en route to a 5-4victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night. Joe Mauer also homered for the Twins, who snapped a four-gamelosing streak. Joaquin Benoit could not hold a one-run lead in the ninth,allowing Cuddyer to tie the game with a leadoff blast. After a walk to Lew Ford, a sacrifice and Nick Punto'sstrikeout, Jason Bartlett's ground ball was thrown away bysecond baseman Ian Kinsler - scoring Ford from second with thewinning run. Rookie Travis Metcalf's third homer of the season - off Minnesotacloser Joe Nathan (4-2) - provided Texas a 4-3 lead in theninth. Rangers starter Edinson Volquez lasted six innings and matchedhis career high with six strikeouts to give the Rangers theirsecond straight victory and extend Minnesota's losing streak tofive games. Minnesota starter Kevin Slowey yielded a run and four hits insix frames with no walks and seven strikeouts.
Twins use ninth-inning comeback to top Rangers <h3>MINNESOTA 5, TEXAS 4</h3>By Anthony Maggio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Ian Kinsler said he's caught the sameshort flare the same way a thousand times. Too bad he couldn'tmake it 1,001. Kinsler dropped Jason Bartlett's short bloop to right field withtwo outs in the ninth inning, allowing Lew Ford to score fromsecond base and give the Minnesota Twins a 5-4 victory over theTexas Rangers on Monday. Joe Nathan (4-2) earned the win despite giving up the go-aheadrun on a home runs in the ninth inning for the Twins, whosnapped a four-game losing streak rather than play extra inningsthanks to Kinsler's miscue. "Careless," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Anybody canmake a mistake, I'm just faulting the carelessness. Ifeverything was right in the way he tried to secure that ball andthen he drops it, that's the way it goes. "Sometimes, he has a habit of thinking everything is easy, andit cost us because of carelessness." Kinsler ran back to short right field to make the play butarrived in plenty of time to catch the ball. Washington saidafterwards that Kinsler should have caught the ball above hiseyes rather than attempting to make the catch just above hiship. Kinsler said he did not have time to get under it and tried tomake the catch how he felt comfortable. "I wouldn't even call this a mental error," Kinsler said. "Itwas kind of a freak thing. It's not like I was thinking aboutsomething else or concentrating on something else, it's just oneof those things that happens in baseball. I just dropped it." The dropped capped off a wild final three innings, as the Twinslost a one-run lead only to tie up the game, fall behind again,then win it in the ninth. The back-and-forth ending started in the top of the seventhinning when Juan Rincon relieved Twins starter Kevin Slowey tostart the frame. Rincon couldn't handle Brad Wilkerson's buntthat was ruled a single, and Guillermo Quiroz singled him homeafter Wilkerson stole second. Ramon Vazquez attempted a sacrifice bunt to move Quiroz tothird, but Rincon threw wildly - attempting to make a play onQuiroz - allowing him to score to give the Rangers a 3-2advantage. Minnesota got a single from Bartlett to start off the eighthinning, moved him to second on Luis Rodriguez's sacrifice bunt,setting up Torii Hunter's two-out RBI single to tie the game offRangers reliever C.J. Wilson. But Texas took the lead again in the ninth when Travis Metcalfhit a one-out solo home run off Nathan. A night after earning the save against Oakland, Joaquin Benoit(7-4) hung a slider to Michael Cuddyer to lead off the ninth,and Cuddyer crushed it into the left-field seats to tie the gameat 4-4. "There's no excuse," Benoit said. "You've got one inning to getthree outs, there's no excuse to give up a home run. You needto go with your best stuff. I made the wrong choice, and I paidfor it." Ford followed with a walk, Brian Buscher sacrificed him tosecond base, and he scored two batters later on Kinsler's error. "I think we both wanted to win it," Twins manager Ron Gardenhiresaid. "I think we just screwed it up enough times that it madethings real entertaining." Joe Mauer also homered for the Twins, hitting his first blastsince July 21 off Rangers starter Edinson Volquez in the sixthinning. Volquez matched career highs by tossing six innings andrecording six strikeouts. Slowey yielded a run and four hits in six frames with no walksand a career-high seven strikeouts. It was his first startwithout allowing a home run in his career. Bartlett and Cuddyer both had two hits for the Twins, who havewon five of their last six against the Rangers. Minnesota alsosnapped a seven-game home losing streak. "That's what we've been doing all this year, just trying tofight back," Hunter said. "It paid off this time. It feels goodto win a game." Quiroz had his fourth career multi-hit game and his first sinceOctober 1, 2004 as a member of the Blue Jays. The Rangers havelost six of their last seven games overall.
Twins use ninth-inning comeback to top Rangers <h3>MINNESOTA 5, TEXAS 4</h3>By Anthony Maggio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Ian Kinsler said he's caught the sameshort flare the same way a thousand times. Too bad he couldn'tmake it 1,001. Kinsler dropped Jason Bartlett's short bloop to right field withtwo outs in the ninth inning, allowing Lew Ford to score fromsecond base and give the Minnesota Twins a 5-4 victory over theTexas Rangers on Monday. Joe Nathan (4-2) earned the win despite giving up the go-aheadrun on a home run in the ninth inning for the Twins, who snappeda four-game losing streak. "Careless," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Anybody canmake a mistake, I'm just faulting the carelessness. Ifeverything was right in the way he tried to secure that ball andthen he drops it, that's the way it goes. "Sometimes, he has a habit of thinking everything is easy, andit cost us because of carelessness." Kinsler ran back to short right field to make the play butarrived in plenty of time to catch the ball. Washington saidafterwards that Kinsler should have caught the ball above hiseyes rather than attempting to make the catch just above hiship. Kinsler said he did not have time to get under it and tried tomake the catch how he felt comfortable. "I wouldn't even call this a mental error," Kinsler said. "Itwas kind of a freak thing. It's not like I was thinking aboutsomething else or concentrating on something else, it's just oneof those things that happens in baseball. I just dropped it." The dropped capped off a wild final three innings, as the Twinslost a one-run lead only to tie up the game, fall behind again,then win it in the ninth. The back-and-forth ending started in the top of the seventhinning when Juan Rincon relieved Twins starter Kevin Slowey tostart the frame. Rincon couldn't handle Brad Wilkerson's buntthat was ruled a single, and Guillermo Quiroz singled him homeafter Wilkerson stole second. Ramon Vazquez attempted a sacrifice bunt to move Quiroz tothird, but Rincon threw wildly - attempting to make a play onQuiroz - allowing him to score to give the Rangers a 3-2advantage. Minnesota got a single from Bartlett to start off the eighthinning, moved him to second on Luis Rodriguez's sacrifice bunt,setting up Torii Hunter's two-out RBI single to tie the game offRangers reliever C.J. Wilson. But Texas took the lead again in the ninth when Travis Metcalfhit a one-out solo home run off Nathan. A night after earning the save against Oakland, Joaquin Benoit(7-4) hung a slider to Michael Cuddyer to lead off the ninth,and Cuddyer crushed it into the left-field seats to tie the gameat 4-4. "There's no excuse," Benoit said. "You've got one inning to getthree outs, there's no excuse to give up a home run. You needto go with your best stuff. I made the wrong choice, and I paidfor it." Ford followed with a walk, Brian Buscher sacrificed him tosecond base, and he scored two batters later on Kinsler's error. "I think we both wanted to win it," Twins manager Ron Gardenhiresaid. "I think we just screwed it up enough times that it madethings real entertaining." Joe Mauer also homered for the Twins, hitting his first blastsince July 21 off Rangers starter Edinson Volquez in the sixthinning. Volquez matched career highs by tossing six innings andrecording six strikeouts. Slowey yielded a run and four hits in six frames with no walksand a career-high seven strikeouts. It was his first startwithout allowing a home run in his career. Bartlett and Cuddyer both had two hits for the Twins, who havewon five of their last six against the Rangers. Minnesota alsosnapped a seven-game home losing streak. "That's what we've been doing all this year, just trying tofight back," Hunter said. "It paid off this time. It feels goodto win a game." Quiroz had his fourth career multi-hit game and his first sinceOctober 1, 2004 as a member of the Blue Jays. The Rangers havelost six of their last seven games overall.
