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

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Nathan relieved J Rincon.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 2
MINNESOTA 4 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J Botts (.244, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

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

BATTERIES: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA, ARMANDO GALARRAGA (6TH) AND JARROD
SALTALAMACCHIA, GUILLERMO QUIROZ (7TH)

MIN - MATT GARZA, GLEN PERKINS (7TH), JUAN RINCON
(8TH), JOE NATHAN (9TH) AND JOE MAUER

HOME RUNS: TEX - FRANK CATALANOTTO (11) OFF MATT GARZA IN THE 1ST, 0 ON

MIN - MICHAEL CUDDYER (15) OFF VICENTE PADILLA IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
JASON KUBEL (12) OFF ARMANDO GALARRAGA IN THE 7TH, 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 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 7 0
MINNESOTA 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 x 4 7 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA, ARMANDO GALARRAGA (6TH) AND JARROD
SALTALAMACCHIA, GUILLERMO QUIROZ (7TH)

MIN - MATT GARZA, GLEN PERKINS (7TH), JUAN RINCON
(8TH), JOE NATHAN (9TH) AND JOE MAUER


WP - MATT GARZA (4-6)
LP - VICENTE PADILLA (6-10)
SAVE - JOE NATHAN (34)

HOME RUNS: TEX - FRANK CATALANOTTO (11) OFF MATT GARZA IN THE 1ST, 0 ON

MIN - MICHAEL CUDDYER (15) OFF VICENTE PADILLA IN THE 3RD, 0 ON
JASON KUBEL (12) OFF ARMANDO GALARRAGA IN THE 7TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:57 ATT: 17,842

PROBABLES: CHA - MARK BUEHRLE (9-9, 3.55)
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA (15-12, 3.14)

PROBABLES: BAL - VICTOR ZAMBRANO (0-2, 7.98)
TEX - BRANDON MCCARTHY (5-10, 5.07)</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 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 .268
b-M Byrd ph-cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .305
I Kinsler 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .264
M Young dh 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 .313
J Botts lf 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .243
B Wilkerson rf-1b 4 0 0 0 0 4 1 .233
D Murphy cf-rf 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 .373
J Saltalamacchia c 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .239
a-S Sosa ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .253
G Quiroz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .500
T Metcalf 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .241
R Vazquez ss 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .238
c-J Hairston Jr ph-ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189

Totals 33 2 7 1 0 9 10

a-struck out swinging for J Saltalamacchia in the 7th; b-doubled to deep right
center for F Catalanotto in the 8th; c-popped out to second for R Vazquez in
the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - D Murphy (10, M Garza); M Byrd (16, J Rincon). HR - F Catalanotto
(11, 1st inning off M Garza 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - F Catalanotto (44). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - M Young 1, T Metcalf 2. GIDP - M Young. Team
LOB - 4.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bartlett ss 4 1 0 1 1 0 5 .268
J Kubel dh 4 1 1 1 0 0 3 .269
J Mauer c 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .287
T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 .291
J Morneau 1b 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 .274
M Cuddyer rf 4 1 2 1 0 1 3 .275
G Jones lf 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 .169
J Tyner lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
B Buscher 3b 2 0 0 0 1 1 3 .263
L Rodriguez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .218
N Punto 2b 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .211

Totals 30 4 7 4 7 4 19

BATTING: HR - M Cuddyer (15, 3rd inning off V Padilla 0 on, 2 Out), J Kubel
(12, 7th inning off A Galarraga 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - J Morneau (108), J Bartlett
(43), M Cuddyer (75), J Kubel (61). 2-out RBI - J Morneau, M Cuddyer. Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1, J Bartlett 2, J Mauer 2. Team
LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: SB - J Bartlett (22, 2nd base off V Padilla/J Saltalamacchia).
CS - T Hunter (8, 2nd base by V Padilla).

FIELDING: E - G Jones (1, bobble). DP: 1 (N Punto-J Bartlett-J Morneau).


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 100 000 100 -- 2
MINNESOTA - 111 000 10x -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
V Padilla (L, 6-10) 5 3 3 3 5 2 1 5.76
A Galarraga 3 4 1 1 2 2 1 2.25

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
M Garza (W, 4-6) 6 1/3 6 2 1 0 5 1 3.72
G Perkins (H, 2) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.46
J Rincon (H, 13) 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.40
J Nathan (S, 34) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.00

Pitches-strikes: V Padilla 97-54; A Galarraga 49-29; M Garza 109-69; G
Perkins 12-9; J Rincon 15-9; J Nathan 12-7. Ground balls-fly balls: V Padilla
2-10; A Galarraga 4-3; M Garza 6-8; G Perkins 0-1; J Rincon 1-1; J Nathan 1-0.
Batters faced: V Padilla 22; A Galarraga 15; M Garza 24; G Perkins 3; J Rincon
3; J Nathan 3.

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

T--2:57. Att--17,842.
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 1ST: F Catalanotto homered to right. I Kinsler singled to center.
M Young grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, I Kinsler out at
second. J Botts flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: J Bartlett walked. J Kubel popped out to shortstop.
J Mauer struck out looking. T Hunter walked, J Bartlett to second. J Morneau
singled to center, J Bartlett scored, T Hunter to third. M Cuddyer struck out
looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 2ND: G Jones walked. B Buscher walked, G Jones to second.
N Punto reached on infield single to pitcher, G Jones to third, B Buscher to
second. J Bartlett grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, G Jones
scored, N Punto out at second, B Buscher to third. J Bartlett stole second.
J Kubel flied out to left. J Mauer grounded out to first. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 3RD: T Hunter walked. T Hunter caught stealing second, pitcher
to first. J Morneau popped out to third. M Cuddyer homered to center. G Jones
lined out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 3.

TEXAS 7TH: J Botts reached on infield single to shortstop. B Wilkerson
struck out swinging. D Murphy singled to left, J Botts to second, J Botts
scored, D Murphy to second on error by left fielder G Jones. G Perkins relieved
M Garza. S Sosa hit for J Saltalamacchia. S Sosa struck out swinging.
T Metcalf struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 7TH: G Quiroz catching. J Kubel homered to right. J Mauer
grounded out to shortstop. T Hunter walked. J Morneau lined out to right.
M Cuddyer grounded into fielder's choice to third, T Hunter out at second.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 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 DH, J Botts LF,
B Wilkerson RF, D Murphy CF, J Saltalamacchia C, T Metcalf 3B, R Vazquez SS,
V Padilla 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, M Garza RHP.

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

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


TEXAS 1ST: F Catalanotto homered to right. I Kinsler singled to center.
M Young grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, I Kinsler out at
second. J Botts flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: J Bartlett walked. J Kubel popped out to shortstop.
J Mauer struck out looking. T Hunter walked, J Bartlett to second. J Morneau
singled to center, J Bartlett scored, T Hunter to third. M Cuddyer struck out
looking. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 1.

TEXAS 2ND: B Wilkerson struck out looking. D Murphy doubled to deep right.
J Saltalamacchia flied out to center. T Metcalf grounded out to third.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 2ND: G Jones walked. B Buscher walked, G Jones to second.
N Punto reached on infield single to pitcher, G Jones to third, B Buscher to
second. J Bartlett grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, G Jones
scored, N Punto out at second, B Buscher to third. J Bartlett stole second.
J Kubel flied out to left. J Mauer grounded out to first. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 2.

TEXAS 3RD: R Vazquez singled to center. F Catalanotto grounded into
fielder's choice to third, R Vazquez out at second. I Kinsler flied out to
right. M Young grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, F Catalanotto out
at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 2.

MINNESOTA 3RD: T Hunter walked. T Hunter caught stealing second, pitcher
to first. J Morneau popped out to third. M Cuddyer homered to center. G Jones
lined out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 3.

TEXAS 4TH: J Botts grounded out to shortstop. B Wilkerson struck out
swinging. D Murphy struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1,
MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 4TH: B Buscher flied out to center. N Punto flied out to center.
J Bartlett fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 3.

TEXAS 5TH: J Saltalamacchia struck out looking. T Metcalf flied out to
left. R Vazquez popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1,
MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 5TH: J Kubel flied out to left. J Mauer flied out to left.
T Hunter flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 3.

TEXAS 6TH: F Catalanotto lined out to left. I Kinsler flied out to center.
M Young flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 6TH: A Galarraga relieved V Padilla. J Morneau walked. M Cuddyer
singled to center, J Morneau to second. G Jones singled to right, J Morneau to
third, M Cuddyer to second. B Buscher struck out looking. N Punto grounded
into fielder's choice to first, J Morneau out at home, M Cuddyer to third,
G Jones to second. J Bartlett flied out to left. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 3.

TEXAS 7TH: J Botts reached on infield single to shortstop. B Wilkerson
struck out swinging. D Murphy singled to left, J Botts to second, J Botts
scored, D Murphy to second on error by left fielder G Jones. G Perkins relieved
M Garza. S Sosa hit for J Saltalamacchia. S Sosa struck out swinging.
T Metcalf struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 3.

MINNESOTA 7TH: G Quiroz catching. J Kubel homered to right. J Mauer
grounded out to shortstop. T Hunter walked. J Morneau lined out to right.
M Cuddyer grounded into fielder's choice to third, T Hunter out at second.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 4.

TEXAS 8TH: J Tyner in left field. L Rodriguez at third base. J Hairston Jr
hit for R Vazquez. J Hairston Jr popped out to second. M Byrd hit for
F Catalanotto. J Rincon relieved G Perkins. M Byrd doubled to deep right center.
I Kinsler flied out to left, M Byrd to third. M Young grounded out to second.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 4.

MINNESOTA 8TH: M Byrd in center field. B Wilkerson at first base. D Murphy
in right field. J Hairston Jr at shortstop. J Tyner popped out to shortstop.
L Rodriguez struck out swinging. N Punto reached on infield single to shortstop.
J Bartlett grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2,
MINNESOTA 4.

TEXAS 9TH: J Nathan relieved J Rincon. J Botts struck out swinging.
B Wilkerson struck out looking. D Murphy grounded out to second. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, MINNESOTA 4.</div>

 

Garza solid, Cuddyer and Kubel homer in Twins' win

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


<div class="pre">MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- It took Matt Garza 13 appearances at</div>the Metrodome, but he finally got his first career win at home.

<div class="pre">Garza threw 6 1/3 effective innings to improve to 1-10 at home</div>as the Minnesota Twins finished off a three-game sweep of theTexas Rangers with a 4-2 victory on Wednesday.


Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel homered for Minnesota, whichbeat Texas for the seventh time in nine meetings this season.

Garza (4-6), who had been 0-5 with a 6.07 ERA in six starts herethis season, allowed two runs - one earned - and six hits withfive strikeouts. He entered the contest with a career 6.40 ERAand .317 opponents batting average at home.


He got off on the wrong foot in this contest as well, giving upa leadoff home run by Frank Catalanotto.


But after Ian Kinsler followed with a single, Garza induced adouble-play grounder and cruised from there. He allowed onlytwo hits through the next five innings and did not issue a walkfor the first time in his last five starts.


Garza won for the first time in four starts overall afterposting a 6.60 ERA in his three previous outings.


Vicente Padilla (6-10), who faced only two batters in hisprevious start before being ejected for hitting Oakland's NickSwisher on Sunday, did not fare as well. After going 3-0 in hisprevious five outings, Padilla struggled with his control andput Texas in an early hole.


Padilla walked two batters in the first inning and the first twoof the second, allowing a run to score in both frames. JustinMorneau plated Jason Bartlett with a single in the first andGarrett Jones scored on Bartlett's groundout in the second.

Torii Hunter walked to start the third inning, but Padillacaught him stealing before Cuddyer put Minnesota ahead, 3-1,with a solo homer to center - his 15th of the season.

Padilla still managed to get through five innings withoutfurther damage, but his five walks were his most since issuingsix on April 19 in Chicago against the White Sox. He hadallowed only one earned run in his previous 12 frames.

Texas nearly got Padilla off the hook in the seventh inning asthey cut the deficit to 3-2.


After Jason Botts led off with a base hit, David Murphy singledtwo batters later and left fielder Jones misplayed the bounce,allowing Botts to score from first and Murphy to reach secondbase while chasing Garza. But Glen Perkins struck out bothpinch hitter Sammy Sosa and Travis Metcalf to end the threat.

Kubel led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run,giving the Twins a 4-2 cushion. Perkins and Juan Rincon bridgedthe gap to closer Joe Nathan, who worked a perfect ninth forhis 34th save in 38 chances.


Murphy had two hits for the Rangers, who have lost eight oftheir last nine.

 

Garza solid, Cuddyer and Kubel homer in Twins' win

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


MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- It took Matt Garza 13 appearances at theMetrodome, but he finally got his first career win at home.

<div class="pre">Garza threw 6 1/3 effective innings to improve to 1-10 at home</div>as the Minnesota Twins finished off a three-game sweep of theTexas Rangers with a 4-2 victory on Wednesday.


Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel homered for Minnesota, whichbeat Texas for the seventh time in nine meetings this season.

"We were joking before the game that maybe we should wear roaduniforms," Garza said. "It's a good feeling."


Garza (4-6), who had been 0-5 with a 6.07 ERA in six starts herethis season, allowed two runs - one earned - and six hits withfive strikeouts. He entered the contest with a career 6.40 ERAand .317 opponents batting average at home.


He got off on the wrong foot in this contest as well, giving upa leadoff home run by Frank Catalanotto.


But after Ian Kinsler followed with a single, Garza induced adouble-play grounder and cruised from there. He allowed onlytwo hits through the next five innings and did not issue a walkfor the first time in his last five starts.


Garza won for the first time in four starts overall afterposting a 6.60 ERA in his three previous outings.


"It's about settling down and using your pitches," Minnesotamanager Ron Gardenhire said. "Don't try to overpitch people.Early on, he had to figure that out."


"It's a learning process," Garza said. "You just have to keepthem off-balance. If they can't catch up to it, why change?There's a fine line."


Vicente Padilla (6-10), who faced only two batters in hisprevious start before being ejected for hitting Oakland's NickSwisher on Sunday, did not fare as well. After going 3-0 in hisprevious five outings, Padilla struggled with his control andput Texas in an early hole.


Using primarily off-speed pitches and working at a snail's pace,Padilla walked two batters in the first inning and the firsttwo of the second, allowing a run to score in both frames.Justin Morneau plated Jason Bartlett with a single in the firstand Garrett Jones scored on Bartlett's groundout in the second.

Padilla reached 60 pitches in the first two innings.

"He was a human rain delay out there," Gardenhire said.

"He just had problems with his command early," Rangers managerRon Washington said. "He's more effective when he uses hisfastball. I don't know why he decided to go to as muchoff-speed as he did, but he has a good fastball and if he usesit, it makes it more effective."


Torii Hunter walked to start the third inning, but Padillacaught him stealing before Cuddyer put Minnesota ahead, 3-1,with a solo homer to center - his 15th of the season.

Padilla still managed to get through five innings withoutfurther damage, but his five walks were his most since issuingsix on April 19 in Chicago against the White Sox. He hadallowed only one earned run in his previous 12 frames.

Texas nearly got Padilla off the hook in the seventh inning asthey cut the deficit to 3-2.


After Jason Botts led off with a base hit, David Murphy singledtwo batters later and left fielder Jones misplayed the bounce,allowing Botts to score from first and Murphy to reach secondbase while chasing Garza. But Glen Perkins struck out bothpinch hitter Sammy Sosa and Travis Metcalf to end the threat.

"Perkins came in and did a super job," Gardenhire said. "That'sa couple nights in a row he's come up and gotten people out.He's throwing the ball really good."


Kubel led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run,giving the Twins a 4-2 cushion. Perkins and Juan Rincon bridgedthe gap to closer Joe Nathan, who worked a perfect ninth forhis 34th save in 38 chances.


Murphy had two hits for the Rangers, who have lost eight oftheir last nine.