GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TEXAS (70-81) at MINNESOTA (74-77)

AL: TEXAS (70-81) at MINNESOTA (74-77)

<h3>Garza, Twins aim for sweep of Rangers</h3>



<div class="pre">Texas (70-81) at Minnesota (74-77) 8:10 pm EDT</div>

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Last year at this time the MinnesotaTwins were putting the finishing touches on a remarkablecomeback. Now they are just fighting to avoid a losing season.

Torii Hunter and the Twins aim for a three-game sweep of theTexas Rangers on Wednesday.


Hunter, who is a free agent after the season, set a new careerhigh in RBI with 104 after driving in a pair in Tuesday's 4-2win. Hunter is hitting .320 (16-for-50) with a home run andeight RBI in his last 12 games.


Minnesota, which rallied from 10 1/2 games back in August to winthe AL Central last season, has lost 10 of 16 games this month.

Matt Garza (3-6, 3.93 ERA) takes the mound as the Twins look tomove closer to .500. Garza is winless in his last three starts,and has allowed 21 runs - 17 earned - and 22 hits in his last 15innings.


Garza, who is 0-5 with a 6.07 ERA in six starts here, will tryand avoid becoming the first Twins' starter to go winless athome with at least five losses since the franchise moved toMinnesota in 1961.


Vicente Padilla (6-9, 5.77), who is pitching while appealing aseven-game suspension, gets the ball for Texas. Padilla wassuspended Tuesday for throwing at Oakland outfielder NickSwisher in the first inning of Sunday's 11-9 win. Therighthander is 3-1 with a 3.63 ERA in seven starts since theAll-Star break.

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TEXAS AT MINNESOTA -- LINEUPS

TEXAS MINNESOTA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Frank Catalanotto 1B .267 10 43 Jason Bartlett SS .270 5 42
Ian Kinsler 2B .264 19 58 Jason Kubel DH .269 11 60
Michael Young DH .315 8 84 Joe Mauer C .290 6 56
Jason Botts LF .242 2 13 Torii Hunter CF .291 28 104
Brad Wilkerson RF .236 20 62 Justin Morneau 1B .273 30 107
David Murphy CF .367 2 11 Michael Cuddyer RF .273 14 74
Jarrod Saltalamacc C .243 7 19 Garrett Jones LF .158 0 2
Travis Metcalf 3B .246 3 16 Brian Buscher 3B .273 2 7
Ramon Vazquez SS .236 8 27 Nick Punto 2B .209 1 23

Vicente Padilla RHP (6-9, 5.77) Matt Garza RHP (3-6, 3.93)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
WARMUPS: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA (6-9, 5.77)
MIN - MATT GARZA (3-6, 3.93)

UMPIRES: HP - MIKE DIMURO
1B - BILL WELKE
2B - JOHN HIRSCHBECK
3B - JEFF NELSON

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
STARTING BATS: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA AND JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA
MIN - MATT GARZA AND JOE MAUER

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: F CATALANOT (.267, 10 HR, 43 RBI)
I KINSLER (.264, 19 HR, 58 RBI)
M YOUNG (.315, 8 HR, 84 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY FRANK CATALANOTTO (11) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT
IN THE 1ST OFF MATT GARZA.
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 0

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.264, 19 HR, 58 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 1 1 2 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J BARTLETT (.270, 5 HR, 42 RBI)
J KUBEL (.269, 11 HR, 60 RBI)
J MAUER (.290, 6 HR, 56 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TEXAS (1) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Catalanotto 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
I Kinsler 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266
M Young dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315
J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
B Wilkerson rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
D Murphy cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .367
J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R Vazquez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - F Catalanotto (11, 1st inning off M Garza 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - F
Catalanotto (44). GIDP - M Young. Team LOB - 0.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
J Kubel dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269
J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
G Jones lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .158
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (N Punto-J Bartlett-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 1 -- 1
MINNESOTA - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
V Padilla 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.77

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 4.01

Pitches-strikes: M Garza 20-13. Ground balls-fly balls: M Garza 2-1. Batters
faced: M Garza 4.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA
MIN - MATT GARZA</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JUSTIN MORNEAU SCORED JASON BARTLETT.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J MORNEAU ON FIRST, T HUNTER ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1
MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.273, 14 HR, 74 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 1 1 2 0
MINNESOTA 1 1 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: B WILKERSON (.236, 20 HR, 62 RBI)
D MURPHY (.367, 2 HR, 11 RBI)
J SALTALAMACCHIA (.243, 7 HR, 19 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TEXAS (1) VS MINNESOTA (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Catalanotto 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
I Kinsler 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266
M Young dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315
J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
B Wilkerson rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236
D Murphy cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .367
J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
R Vazquez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - F Catalanotto (11, 1st inning off M Garza 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - F
Catalanotto (44). GIDP - M Young. Team LOB - 0.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .270
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .289
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .291
J Morneau 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .275
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .273
G Jones lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .158
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 4 1 1 1 2 2 4

BATTING: RBI - J Morneau (108). 2-out RBI - J Morneau. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (N Punto-J Bartlett-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 1 -- 1
MINNESOTA - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
V Padilla 1 1 1 1 2 2 0 5.80

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 4.01

Pitches-strikes: V Padilla 34-19; M Garza 20-13. Ground balls-fly balls: V
Padilla 0-1; M Garza 2-1. Batters faced: V Padilla 6; M Garza 4.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 1 0 1 3 0
MINNESOTA 1 1 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: G JONES (.158, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
B BUSCHER (.273, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
N PUNTO (.209, 1 HR, 23 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TEXAS (1) VS MINNESOTA (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Catalanotto 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
I Kinsler 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266
M Young dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315
J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
B Wilkerson rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235
D Murphy cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .375
J Saltalamacchia c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .241
T Metcalf 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .244
R Vazquez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 1 3

BATTING: 2B - D Murphy (10, M Garza). HR - F Catalanotto (11, 1st inning off M
Garza 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - F Catalanotto (44). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - T Metcalf 1. GIDP - M Young. Team LOB - 1.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .270
J Kubel dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .268
J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .289
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .291
J Morneau 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .275
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .273
G Jones lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .158
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .209

Totals 4 1 1 1 2 2 4

BATTING: RBI - J Morneau (108). 2-out RBI - J Morneau. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (N Punto-J Bartlett-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 10 -- 1
MINNESOTA - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
V Padilla 1 1 1 1 2 2 0 5.80

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 2 3 1 1 0 1 1 3.95

Pitches-strikes: V Padilla 34-19; M Garza 35-23. Ground balls-fly balls: V
Padilla 0-1; M Garza 3-2. Batters faced: V Padilla 6; M Garza 8.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY JASON BARTLETT SCORED GARRETT JONES.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J BARTLETT ON FIRST, B BUSCHER ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1
MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J KUBEL (.268, 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 1 0 1 3 0
MINNESOTA 1 1 2 2 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: R VAZQUEZ (.236, 8 HR, 27 RBI)
F CATALANOTTO (.269, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)
I KINSLER (.266, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TEXAS (1) VS MINNESOTA (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Catalanotto 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .269
I Kinsler 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266
M Young dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315
J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
B Wilkerson rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235
D Murphy cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .375
J Saltalamacchia c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .241
T Metcalf 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .244
R Vazquez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 1 3

BATTING: 2B - D Murphy (10, M Garza). HR - F Catalanotto (11, 1st inning off M
Garza 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - F Catalanotto (44). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - T Metcalf 1. GIDP - M Young. Team LOB - 1.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 .269
J Kubel dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .267
J Mauer c 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .289
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .291
J Morneau 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .275
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .273
G Jones lf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .158
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273
N Punto 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .210

Totals 8 2 2 2 4 2 9

BATTING: RBI - J Morneau (108), J Bartlett (43). 2-out RBI - J Morneau. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1, J Mauer 2. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Bartlett (22, 2nd base off V Padilla/J Saltalamacchia).


FIELDING: DP: 1 (N Punto-J Bartlett-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 10 -- 1
MINNESOTA - 11 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
V Padilla 2 2 2 2 4 2 0 5.83

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 2 3 1 1 0 1 1 3.95

Pitches-strikes: V Padilla 61-32; M Garza 35-23. Ground balls-fly balls: V
Padilla 2-2; M Garza 3-2. Batters faced: V Padilla 12; M Garza 8.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 1 0 0 1 4 0
MINNESOTA 1 1 2 2 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.291, 0-FOR-0, BB)
J MORNEAU (.275, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
M CUDDYER (.273, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TEXAS (1) VS MINNESOTA (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
F Catalanotto 1b 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .268
I Kinsler 2b 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .265
M Young dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .314
J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
B Wilkerson rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235
D Murphy cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .375
J Saltalamacchia c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .241
T Metcalf 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .244
R Vazquez ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .239

Totals 12 1 4 1 0 1 6

BATTING: 2B - D Murphy (10, M Garza). HR - F Catalanotto (11, 1st inning off M
Garza 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - F Catalanotto (44). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - T Metcalf 1. GIDP - M Young. Team LOB - 2.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 .269
J Kubel dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .267
J Mauer c 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .289
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .291
J Morneau 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .275
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .273
G Jones lf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .158
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .273
N Punto 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .210

Totals 8 2 2 2 4 2 9

BATTING: RBI - J Morneau (108), J Bartlett (43). 2-out RBI - J Morneau. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1, J Mauer 2. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Bartlett (22, 2nd base off V Padilla/J Saltalamacchia).


FIELDING: DP: 1 (N Punto-J Bartlett-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 100 -- 1
MINNESOTA - 11 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
V Padilla 2 2 2 2 4 2 0 5.83

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza 3 4 1 1 0 1 1 3.89

Pitches-strikes: V Padilla 61-32; M Garza 50-31. Ground balls-fly balls: V
Padilla 2-2; M Garza 5-3. Batters faced: V Padilla 12; M Garza 12.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MICHAEL CUDDYER (15) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 3RD OFF VICENTE PADILLA.
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 3

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: G JONES (.158, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TEXAS 1 0 0 1 4 0
MINNESOTA 1 1 1 3 3 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA
MIN - MATT GARZA

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J BOTTS (.241, 0-FOR-1)
B WILKERSON (.235, 0-FOR-1)
D MURPHY (.375, 1-FOR-1)</div>