GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TEXAS (70-80) at MINNESOTA (73-77)

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 1 0 0 0 2 11 3
MINNESOTA 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 x 4 10 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD, BILL WHITE (7TH), WES LITTLETON (8TH) AND
JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA

MIN - CARLOS SILVA, JULIO DEPAULA (7TH), GLEN PERKINS
(7TH), MATT GUERRIER (8TH), JOE NATHAN (9TH) AND JOE MAUER


WP - CARLOS SILVA (12-14)
LP - KEVIN MILLWOOD (9-13)
SAVE - JOE NATHAN (33)

HOME RUNS: TEX - NONE

MIN - NONE


TIME: 2:47 ATT: 18,226

PROBABLES: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA (6-9, 5.77)
MIN - MATT GARZA (3-6, 3.93)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TEXAS (2) VS MINNESOTA (4) - FINAL

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Catalanotto 1b 5 0 1 0 0 1 2 .267
I Kinsler 2b 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 .264
M Young ss 4 0 3 0 1 0 0 .315
M Byrd cf 5 1 1 0 0 1 5 .304
H Blalock dh 4 0 1 0 1 0 4 .297
J Botts lf 4 0 2 0 0 2 2 .242
F Guzman pr-lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000
a-B Wilkerson ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .236
D Murphy rf 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 .367
J Saltalamacchia c 4 0 1 1 0 2 2 .243
T Metcalf 3b 4 1 1 0 0 1 6 .246

Totals 37 2 11 2 4 8 24

a-struck out swinging for F Guzman in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - F Catalanotto (20, C Silva); H Blalock (15, C Silva). RBI - I
Kinsler (58), J Saltalamacchia (19). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
B Wilkerson 1, H Blalock 2, F Catalanotto 2. GIDP - T Metcalf. Team LOB - 13.


FIELDING: E - M Young 3 (19, ground ball, throw 2). Outfield assists - D
Murphy (N Punto at 3rd base). DP: 2 (I Kinsler-M Young-F Catalanotto 2).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 .270
J Kubel dh 4 3 3 0 0 0 1 .269
J Mauer c 3 0 1 1 1 0 2 .290
T Hunter cf 4 0 2 2 0 0 2 .291
J Morneau 1b 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 .273
M Cuddyer rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .273
R White lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .155
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
L Rodriguez 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 .219
N Punto 2b 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 33 4 10 3 2 0 15

BATTING: 2B - J Kubel 2 (30, K Millwood 2); J Mauer (27, K Millwood); N Punto
(17, K Millwood); T Hunter (43, K Millwood). RBI - T Hunter 2 (104), J Mauer
(56). 2-out RBI - T Hunter 2, J Mauer. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out
- J Morneau 3, T Hunter 1. GIDP - L Rodriguez 2. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: E - N Punto (12, throw). DP: 1 (J Bartlett-N Punto-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 001 001 000 -- 2
MINNESOTA - 002 010 10x -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Millwood (L, 9-13) 6 2/3 10 4 2 2 0 0 5.39
B White 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.76
W Littleton 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.48

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva (W, 12-14) 6 7 2 2 3 5 0 4.40
J DePaula (H, 1) 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 9.00
G Perkins (H, 1) 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.60
M Guerrier (H, 13) 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 2.23
J Nathan (S, 33) 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 2.04

WP - K Millwood. IBB - J Mauer (by K Millwood). HBP - I Kinsler (by J
DePaula). Pitches-strikes: K Millwood 110-67; B White 4-3; W Littleton 11-8; C
Silva 103-65; J DePaula 10-7; G Perkins 1-1; M Guerrier 18-11; J Nathan 19-11.
Ground balls-fly balls: K Millwood 15-5; B White 0-1; W Littleton 3-0; C Silva
5-8; J DePaula 2-0; G Perkins 0-1; M Guerrier 1-1; J Nathan 1-0. Batters faced:
K Millwood 31; B White 1; W Littleton 3; C Silva 27; J DePaula 4; G Perkins 1;
M Guerrier 5; J Nathan 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Jeff Nelson. 1B--Mike Dimuro. 2B--Bill Welke. 3B--John
Hirschbeck.

T--2:47. Att--18,226.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
TEXAS 2
MINNESOTA 4 FINAL</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEXAS (2) AT MINNESOTA (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TEXAS 3RD: T Metcalf singled to center. F Catalanotto doubled to deep
right, T Metcalf to third. I Kinsler grounded out to shortstop, T Metcalf
scored, F Catalanotto to third. M Young walked. M Byrd popped out to
shortstop. H Blalock flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: N Punto reached on infield single to shortstop, N Punto to
second on throwing error by shortstop M Young. J Bartlett grounded into
fielder's choice to pitcher, N Punto out at third, J Bartlett to second.
J Kubel safe at second on throwing error by shortstop M Young, J Bartlett scored.
J Mauer popped out to shortstop. T Hunter singled to center, J Kubel scored,
T Hunter to second. T Hunter to third on wild pitch by K Millwood. J Morneau
grounded out to second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 5TH: N Punto grounded out to shortstop. J Bartlett grounded out
to shortstop. J Kubel doubled to deep left. J Mauer hit a ground rule double
to deep center, J Kubel scored. T Hunter fouled out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 3.

TEXAS 6TH: M Byrd singled to center. H Blalock doubled to deep center,
M Byrd to third. J Botts struck out swinging. D Murphy walked.
J Saltalamacchia singled to right, M Byrd scored, H Blalock to third, D Murphy to
second. T Metcalf grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first,
J Saltalamacchia out at second.(1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 7TH: N Punto doubled to deep right, N Punto out stretching at
third. J Bartlett grounded out to second. J Kubel hit a ground rule double to
deep left center. J Mauer intentionally walked. T Hunter doubled to deep
right, J Kubel scored, J Mauer to third. B White relieved K Millwood.
J Morneau flied out to center. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 4.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEXAS (2) AT MINNESOTA (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Texas Starting Lineups -- F Catalanotto 1B, I Kinsler 2B, M Young SS, M Byrd CF,
H Blalock DH, J Botts LF, D Murphy RF, J Saltalamacchia C, T Metcalf 3B, K Millwood RHP.

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- J Bartlett SS, J Kubel DH, J Mauer C, T Hunter CF,
J Morneau 1B, M Cuddyer RF, R White LF, L Rodriguez 3B, N Punto 2B, C Silva RHP.

Umpires -- Jeff Nelson (HP), Mike Dimuro (1B), Bill Welke (2B), John Hirschbeck (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


TEXAS 1ST: F Catalanotto fouled out to left. I Kinsler flied out to
center. M Young singled to center. M Byrd flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: J Bartlett flied out to center. J Kubel singled to center.
J Mauer flied out to left. T Hunter grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0.

TEXAS 2ND: H Blalock grounded out to second. J Botts singled to center.
D Murphy flied out to left. J Saltalamacchia struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: J Morneau grounded out to first. M Cuddyer grounded out to
second. R White singled to right. L Rodriguez grounded out to second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0.

TEXAS 3RD: T Metcalf singled to center. F Catalanotto doubled to deep
right, T Metcalf to third. I Kinsler grounded out to shortstop, T Metcalf
scored, F Catalanotto to third. M Young walked. M Byrd popped out to
shortstop. H Blalock flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: N Punto reached on infield single to shortstop, N Punto to
second on throwing error by shortstop M Young. J Bartlett grounded into
fielder's choice to pitcher, N Punto out at third, J Bartlett to second.
J Kubel safe at second on throwing error by shortstop M Young, J Bartlett scored.
J Mauer popped out to shortstop. T Hunter singled to center, J Kubel scored,
T Hunter to second. T Hunter to third on wild pitch by K Millwood. J Morneau
grounded out to second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 2.

TEXAS 4TH: J Botts struck out looking. D Murphy walked. J Saltalamacchia
struck out looking. T Metcalf popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 4TH: M Cuddyer singled to right. R White flied out to center.
L Rodriguez grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, M Cuddyer
out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 2.

TEXAS 5TH: F Catalanotto struck out looking. I Kinsler flied out to right.
M Young grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1,
MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 5TH: N Punto grounded out to shortstop. J Bartlett grounded out
to shortstop. J Kubel doubled to deep left. J Mauer hit a ground rule double
to deep center, J Kubel scored. T Hunter fouled out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 3.

TEXAS 6TH: M Byrd singled to center. H Blalock doubled to deep center,
M Byrd to third. J Botts struck out swinging. D Murphy walked.
J Saltalamacchia singled to right, M Byrd scored, H Blalock to third, D Murphy to
second. T Metcalf grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first,
J Saltalamacchia out at second.(1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 6TH: J Morneau walked. M Cuddyer grounded into fielder's choice
to pitcher, J Morneau out at second. R White grounded into fielder's choice to
shortstop, M Cuddyer safe at second on error by shortstop M Young. L Rodriguez
grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, R White out at
second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 3.

TEXAS 7TH: J DePaula relieved C Silva. F Catalanotto grounded out to first.
I Kinsler hit by pitch. M Young singled to right, I Kinsler to second.
M Byrd grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, M Young out at second,
I Kinsler to third. G Perkins relieved J DePaula. H Blalock fouled out to third.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 7TH: N Punto doubled to deep right, N Punto out stretching at
third. J Bartlett grounded out to second. J Kubel hit a ground rule double to
deep left center. J Mauer intentionally walked. T Hunter doubled to deep
right, J Kubel scored, J Mauer to third. B White relieved K Millwood.
J Morneau flied out to center. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 4.

TEXAS 8TH: M Guerrier relieved G Perkins. J Tyner in left field. J Botts
reached on infield single to shortstop. D Murphy singled to center, J Botts to
second. F Guzman ran for J Botts. J Saltalamacchia grounded out to second,
F Guzman to third, D Murphy to second. T Metcalf struck out swinging.
F Catalanotto flied out to left. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 4.

MINNESOTA 8TH: F Guzman in left field. W Littleton relieved B White.
M Cuddyer grounded out to shortstop. J Tyner grounded out to first. L Rodriguez
grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 4.

TEXAS 9TH: J Nathan relieved M Guerrier. I Kinsler grounded out to
shortstop. M Young reached on infield single to second, M Young to second on
throwing error by second baseman N Punto. M Byrd struck out swinging.
H Blalock walked. B Wilkerson hit for F Guzman. B Wilkerson struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 4.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEXAS (2) AT MINNESOTA (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Texas Starting Lineups -- F Catalanotto 1B, I Kinsler 2B, M Young SS, M Byrd CF,
H Blalock DH, J Botts LF, D Murphy RF, J Saltalamacchia C, T Metcalf 3B, K Millwood RHP.

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- J Bartlett SS, J Kubel DH, J Mauer C, T Hunter CF,
J Morneau 1B, M Cuddyer RF, R White LF, L Rodriguez 3B, N Punto 2B, C Silva RHP.

Umpires -- Jeff Nelson (HP), Mike Dimuro (1B), Bill Welke (2B), John Hirschbeck (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


TEXAS 1ST: F Catalanotto fouled out to left. I Kinsler flied out to
center. M Young singled to center. M Byrd flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: J Bartlett flied out to center. J Kubel singled to center.
J Mauer flied out to left. T Hunter grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0.

TEXAS 2ND: H Blalock grounded out to second. J Botts singled to center.
D Murphy flied out to left. J Saltalamacchia struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: J Morneau grounded out to first. M Cuddyer grounded out to
second. R White singled to right. L Rodriguez grounded out to second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0.

TEXAS 3RD: T Metcalf singled to center. F Catalanotto doubled to deep
right, T Metcalf to third. I Kinsler grounded out to shortstop, T Metcalf
scored, F Catalanotto to third. M Young walked. M Byrd popped out to
shortstop. H Blalock flied out to left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 3RD: N Punto reached on infield single to shortstop, N Punto to
second on throwing error by shortstop M Young. J Bartlett grounded into
fielder's choice to pitcher, N Punto out at third, J Bartlett to second.
J Kubel safe at second on throwing error by shortstop M Young, J Bartlett scored.
J Mauer popped out to shortstop. T Hunter singled to center, J Kubel scored,
T Hunter to second. T Hunter to third on wild pitch by K Millwood. J Morneau
grounded out to second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 2.

TEXAS 4TH: J Botts struck out looking. D Murphy walked. J Saltalamacchia
struck out looking. T Metcalf popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 4TH: M Cuddyer singled to right. R White flied out to center.
L Rodriguez grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, M Cuddyer
out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 2.

TEXAS 5TH: F Catalanotto struck out looking. I Kinsler flied out to right.
M Young grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1,
MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 5TH: N Punto grounded out to shortstop. J Bartlett grounded out
to shortstop. J Kubel doubled to deep left. J Mauer hit a ground rule double
to deep center, J Kubel scored. T Hunter fouled out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 3.

TEXAS 6TH: M Byrd singled to center. H Blalock doubled to deep center,
M Byrd to third. J Botts struck out swinging. D Murphy walked.
J Saltalamacchia singled to right, M Byrd scored, H Blalock to third, D Murphy to
second. T Metcalf grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first,
J Saltalamacchia out at second.(1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 6TH: J Morneau walked. M Cuddyer grounded into fielder's choice
to pitcher, J Morneau out at second. R White grounded into fielder's choice to
shortstop, M Cuddyer safe at second on error by shortstop M Young. L Rodriguez
grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, R White out at
second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 3.

TEXAS 7TH: J DePaula relieved C Silva. F Catalanotto grounded out to first.
I Kinsler hit by pitch. M Young singled to right, I Kinsler to second.
M Byrd grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, M Young out at second,
I Kinsler to third. G Perkins relieved J DePaula. H Blalock fouled out to third.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 7TH: N Punto doubled to deep right, N Punto out stretching at
third. J Bartlett grounded out to second. J Kubel hit a ground rule double to
deep left center. J Mauer intentionally walked. T Hunter doubled to deep
right, J Kubel scored, J Mauer to third. B White relieved K Millwood.
J Morneau flied out to center. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 4.

TEXAS 8TH: M Guerrier relieved G Perkins. J Tyner in left field. J Botts
reached on infield single to shortstop. D Murphy singled to center, J Botts to
second. F Guzman ran for J Botts. J Saltalamacchia grounded out to second,
F Guzman to third, D Murphy to second. T Metcalf struck out swinging.
F Catalanotto flied out to left. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 4.

MINNESOTA 8TH: F Guzman in left field. W Littleton relieved B White.
M Cuddyer grounded out to shortstop. J Tyner grounded out to first. L Rodriguez
grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 4.

TEXAS 9TH: J Nathan relieved M Guerrier. I Kinsler grounded out to
shortstop. M Young reached on infield single to second, M Young to second on
throwing error by second baseman N Punto. M Byrd struck out swinging.
H Blalock walked. B Wilkerson hit for F Guzman. B Wilkerson struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 4.</div>

 

Kubel, Hunter lead Twins past Rangers

<h3>MINNESOTA 4, TEXAS 2</h3>By Anthony Maggio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Jason Kubel had three hits and scoredthree times and Torii Hunter drove in a pair of runs as theMinnesota Twins topped the Texas Rangers, 4-2, on Tuesday.

Kubel also reached base on a Michael Young error, his second ofthree in the game, which led to two unearned runs for the Twinsin the third inning.


Joe Mauer added an RBI double and Carlos Silva (12-14) lastedsix innings for the win, sending the Rangers to their seventhloss in eight games. Minnesota will go for the three-game sweepon Wednesday.


Young's rough night at shortstop started when Nick Punto led offthe third inning with a single and went to second on the error.

Jason Bartlett was able to reach first on a fielder's choiceground ball and came around to score when Young threw awayKubel's grounder to shortstop in the next at-bat. Hunter drovein Kubel with a single two batters later to give the Twins thelead at 2-1, one they would not relinquish.


Kubel doubled and scored on Mauer's double in the fifth inning,then doubled again in the seventh, and came home on Hunter'ssecond RBI single of the game. Hunter's two RBI upped hisseason total to 104, a new career high.


Silva, pitching for the first time since leaving his last starton September 12 after two innings because of a pulled groin,allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings to win for thethird time in his last nine starts. His performance waspunctuated by a tense sixth inning that ended with a niftydouble-play to keep the Twins ahead by a run.


After retiring eight of nine batters heading into the sixth,Silva gave up a single to Marlon Byrd and a deep fly ball toHank Blalock that hit the top of the wall in center field for adouble.


Jason Botts struck out and David Murphy then walked to load thebases. Jarrod Saltalamacchia lined a single to right field tobring home Byrd and ninth hitter Travis Metcalf followed with aground ball up the middle. But shortstop Jason Bartlett playedthe ball behind second base and flipped it to Nick Punto, whomade a barehanded catch and fired a rope to first to beatMetcalf by a half step.


Jarrod Saltalamacchia lined a single to right field to bringhome Byrd and ninth hitter Travis Metcalf followed with a groundball up the middle. But Jason Bartlett played the ball behindsecond base and flipped it to Nick Punto, who made a barehandedcatch a fired a rope to first to beat Metcalf by a half step.

A night after giving up a home run but earning the win, closerJoe Nathan worked a scoreless ninth to pick up his 33rd save in37 chances.


Rangers starter Kevin Millwood (9-13) bounced back from a roughouting against Oakland in his last start, but was done no favorsby his defense. Millwood gave up four runs - two earned - on10 hits with two walks in 6 2/3 innings for his secondconsecutive loss and fourth in his last five decisions.

Ian Kinsler drove in Metcalf with a groundout in the thirdinning and Botts had two singles for Texas, which lost its thirdin a row and sixth time in eight games vs. Minnesota thisseason.

 

Kubel, Hunter lead Twins past Rangers

<h3>MINNESOTA 4, TEXAS 2</h3>By Anthony Maggio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Jason Kubel had three hits and scoredthree times and Torii Hunter drove in a pair of runs as theMinnesota Twins topped the Texas Rangers, 4-2, on Tuesday.

Kubel also reached base on shortstop Michael Young's error, hissecond of three in the game, which led to two unearned runs forthe Twins in the third inning.


Joe Mauer added an RBI double and Carlos Silva (12-14) lastedsix innings for the win, sending the Rangers to their seventhloss in eight games. Minnesota will go for the three-game sweepon Wednesday.


"Thank God we were able to make that double play (to end thesixth inning) and to finish like that, something nice toremember," Silva said. "Maybe people won't remember the crazystuff I did here."


Young's rough night started when Nick Punto led off the thirdinning with a single and went to second on the error.

"That first one doesn't bother me as much, it was a tough playand I'll never put that ball in my pocket, I'll try to make thatplay every time," Young said. "The next two, those were justflat out routine plays that I didn't make. That doesn't make mevery happy at all."


Jason Bartlett was able to reach first on a fielder's choiceground ball and came around to score when Young threw awayKubel's grounder to shortstop in the next at-bat. Hunter drovein Kubel with a single two batters later to give the Twins thelead at 2-1, one they would not relinquish.


"To pretty much give the other team two runs because of mistakeson defense is pretty frustrating," Young said.


"He just had a rough night," Rangers manager Ron Washingtonsaid. "You hit those at him 99 more times and he'll make everysingle one of them. Sometimes in this game you just have thosetype of nights."


Kubel doubled and scored on Mauer's double in the fifth inning,then doubled again in the seventh, and came home on Hunter'ssecond RBI single of the game. Hunter's two RBI upped hisseason total to 104, a new career high.


"The last couple months I've had a good swing, a good feelinggoing," Kubel said. "I'm just trying to keep that going."

Silva, pitching for the first time since leaving his last starton September 12 after two innings because of a pulled groin,allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings to win for thethird time in his last nine starts.


His performance was punctuated by a tense sixth inning thatended with a nifty double-play to keep the Twins ahead by a run.

After retiring eight of nine batters heading into the sixth,Silva gave up a single to Marlon Byrd and a deep fly ball toHank Blalock that hit the top of the wall in center field for adouble.


Jason Botts struck out and David Murphy then walked to load thebases. Jarrod Saltalamacchia lined a single to right field tobring home Byrd and ninth hitter Travis Metcalf followed with aground ball up the middle. But shortstop Jason Bartlett playedthe ball behind second base and flipped it to Nick Punto, whomade a barehanded catch and fired a rope to first to beatMetcalf by a half step.


Jarrod Saltalamacchia lined a single to right field to bringhome Byrd and ninth hitter Travis Metcalf followed with a groundball up the middle. But Jason Bartlett played the ball behindsecond base and flipped it to Nick Punto, who made a barehandedcatch a fired a rope to first to beat Metcalf by a half step.

A night after giving up a home run but earning the win, closerJoe Nathan worked a scoreless ninth to pick up his 33rd save in37 chances.


"The bullpen did a great job," Twins manager Ron Gardenhiresaid. "Some of these young men are going to have to step up in abullpen and tonight was a night they got it done the best theycould against a good offensive team."


Rangers starter Kevin Millwood (9-13) bounced back from a roughouting against Oakland in his last start, but was done no favorsby his defense. Millwood gave up four runs - two earned - on10 hits with two walks in 6 2/3 innings for his secondconsecutive loss and fourth in his last five decisions.

Ian Kinsler drove in Metcalf with a groundout in the thirdinning and Botts had two singles for Texas, which lost its thirdin a row and sixth time in eight games vs. Minnesota thisseason.