AL: TEXAS (53-67) at MINNESOTA (60-60) <h3>Twins seek third straight win</h3> <div class="pre">Texas (53-67) at Minnesota (60-60) 8:10 pm EDT</div> MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins are looking to repeattheir late-season surge from previous years when they open aweekend series against the Texas Rangers on Friday. Minnesota enters 6 1/2 games behind the Detroit Tigers (67-54)in the American League Central standings. Last year, the Twinsbattled back to overtake the Tigers in the final week of theseason to capture the division. The Twins send Carlos Silva (9-12, 4.30 ERA) to the hill afterhe threw seven scoreless innings but failed to figure in a 4-3loss at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Saturday. Therighthander is winless in his past two starts despite allowingjust two runs in 14 frames. The 28-year-old Venezuelan is 2-4 with a 5.49 ERA through sevencareer starts against Texas. However, Silva has a 6-4 recordwith a 3.63 ERA at the Metrodome this season. Rookie Kason Gabbard (5-1, 3.83) aims to bounce back from hisshortened outing for the Rangers. He exited Sunday's matchupagainst the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after just 1 1/3 frames withstiffness in his left forearm. The lefthanded Gabbard, who is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA through threestarts since coming over from the Boston Red Sox at the tradedeadline, has never faced Minnesota.
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">TEXAS AT MINNESOTA -- LINEUPS TEXAS MINNESOTA AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Frank Catalanotto LF .249 9 35 Alexi Casilla 2B .260 0 7 Ian Kinsler 2B .258 15 43 Nick Punto SS .204 1 20 Michael Young SS .304 7 66 Joe Mauer C .305 5 52 Marlon Byrd CF .321 4 43 Torii Hunter CF .296 24 84 Jason Botts DH .224 1 5 Justin Morneau 1B .282 28 91 Nelson Cruz RF .216 6 22 Michael Cuddyer RF .277 11 62 Brad Wilkerson 1B .229 17 50 Rondell White LF .164 1 7 Jarrod Saltalamacc C .189 0 3 Mike Redmond DH .287 1 28 Ramon Vazquez 3B .236 5 17 Tommy Watkins 3B .250 0 0 Kason Gabbard LHP (5-1, 3.83) Carlos Silva RHP (9-12, 4.30)</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA WARMUPS: TEX - KASON GABBARD (5-1, 3.83) MIN - CARLOS SILVA (9-12, 4.30) UMPIRES: HP - ANDY FLETCHER 1B - MIKE REILLY 2B - ROB DRAKE 3B - ADAM DOWDY WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA STARTING BATS: TEX - KASON GABBARD AND JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA MIN - CARLOS SILVA AND JOE MAUER DUE UP FOR TEXAS: F CATALANOT (.249, 9 HR, 35 RBI) I KINSLER (.258, 15 HR, 43 RBI) M YOUNG (.304, 7 HR, 66 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 1 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: A CASILLA (.260, 0 HR, 7 RBI) N PUNTO (.204, 1 HR, 20 RBI) J MAUER (.305, 5 HR, 52 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 lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .252 I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .257 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .303 M Byrd cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321 J Botts dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 B Wilkerson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229 J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189 R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 BATTING: GIDP - M Young. Team LOB - 0. MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 R White lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .164 M Redmond dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 T Watkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Casilla-N Punto-J Morneau). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 0 -- 0 MINNESOTA - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.83 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era C Silva 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.27 Pitches-strikes: C Silva 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: C Silva 2-0. Batters faced: C Silva 3. UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Adam Dowdy. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA CONFIRMED STARTERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD MIN - CARLOS SILVA</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 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M BYRD (.321, 4 HR, 43 RBI) J BOTTS (.224, 1 HR, 5 RBI) N CRUZ (.216, 6 HR, 22 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 lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .252 I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .257 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .303 M Byrd cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .321 J Botts dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 B Wilkerson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229 J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189 R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 1 2 BATTING: GIDP - M Young. Team LOB - 0. MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 N Punto ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 R White lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .164 M Redmond dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 T Watkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Casilla-N Punto-J Morneau). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 0 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.76 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era C Silva 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.27 Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 7-5; C Silva 11-7. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 1-2; C Silva 2-0. Batters faced: K Gabbard 3; C Silva 3. UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Adam Dowdy. 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 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.296, 24 HR, 84 RBI) J MORNEAU (.282, 28 HR, 91 RBI) M CUDDYER (.277, 11 HR, 62 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 lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .252 I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .257 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .303 M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 J Botts dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 N Cruz rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .215 B Wilkerson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229 J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189 R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 Totals 6 0 1 0 0 2 2 BATTING: GIDP - M Young. Team LOB - 0. MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 N Punto ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .282 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 R White lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .164 M Redmond dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 T Watkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Casilla-N Punto-J Morneau). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 00 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.76 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era C Silva 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.24 Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 7-5; C Silva 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 1-2; C Silva 3-1. Batters faced: K Gabbard 3; C Silva 6. UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Adam Dowdy. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE GROUND OUT BY RONDELL WHITE SCORED JUSTIN MORNEAU. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M CUDDYER ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0 MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M REDMOND (.287, 1 HR, 28 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 1 0 MINNESOTA 0 1 1 2 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR TEXAS: B WILKERSON (.229, 17 HR, 50 RBI) J SALTALAMACCHIA (.189, 0 HR, 3 RBI) R VAZQUEZ (.236, 5 HR, 17 RBI)</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 lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .252 I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .257 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .303 M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 J Botts dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 N Cruz rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .215 B Wilkerson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .229 J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .189 R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 Totals 6 0 1 0 0 2 2 BATTING: GIDP - M Young. Team LOB - 0. MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 N Punto ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .295 J Morneau 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283 M Cuddyer rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279 R White lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .161 M Redmond dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .287 T Watkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .222 Totals 8 1 2 1 1 2 3 BATTING: 2B - M Cuddyer (21, K Gabbard). RBI - R White (8). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Watkins 1. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Casilla-N Punto-J Morneau). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 00 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 01 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 2 2 1 1 1 2 0 3.86 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era C Silva 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 4.24 WP - K Gabbard. Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 28-17; C Silva 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 2-2; C Silva 3-1. Batters faced: K Gabbard 9; C Silva 6. UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Adam Dowdy. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA (1) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN THE 3RD OFF CARLOS SILVA. CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1, MINNESOTA 1 DUE UP FOR TEXAS: R VAZQUEZ (.236, 5 HR, 17 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 1 1 4 0 MINNESOTA 0 1 1 2 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: A CASILLA (.258, 0-FOR-1) N PUNTO (.204, 0-FOR-1) J MAUER (.304, 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 lf 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .255 I Kinsler 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .256 M Young ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .302 M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 J Botts dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 N Cruz rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .215 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .228 J Saltalamacchia c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .204 R Vazquez 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .240 Totals 12 1 4 1 0 3 6 BATTING: HR - J Saltalamacchia (1, 3rd inning off C Silva 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - J Saltalamacchia (4). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Young 1. GIDP - M Young. Team LOB - 2. MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 N Punto ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .295 J Morneau 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283 M Cuddyer rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279 R White lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .161 M Redmond dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .287 T Watkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .222 Totals 8 1 2 1 1 2 3 BATTING: 2B - M Cuddyer (21, K Gabbard). RBI - R White (8). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Watkins 1. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Casilla-N Punto-J Morneau). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 001 -- 1 MINNESOTA - 01 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 2 2 1 1 1 2 0 3.86 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era C Silva 3 4 1 1 0 3 1 4.28 WP - K Gabbard. Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 28-17; C Silva 49-33. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 2-2; C Silva 4-2. Batters faced: K Gabbard 9; C Silva 12. UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Adam Dowdy. 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 4 0 MINNESOTA 0 1 0 1 2 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M BYRD (.320, 0-FOR-1) J BOTTS (.220, 0-FOR-1) N CRUZ (.215, 0-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 lf 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .255 I Kinsler 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .256 M Young ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 .302 M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .320 J Botts dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 N Cruz rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .215 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .228 J Saltalamacchia c 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .204 R Vazquez 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .240 Totals 12 1 4 1 0 3 6 BATTING: HR - J Saltalamacchia (1, 3rd inning off C Silva 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - J Saltalamacchia (4). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Young 1. GIDP - M Young. Team LOB - 2. MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg A Casilla 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 N Punto ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .203 J Mauer c 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .303 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .295 J Morneau 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .283 M Cuddyer rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .279 R White lf 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .161 M Redmond dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .287 T Watkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .222 Totals 11 1 2 1 1 2 3 BATTING: 2B - M Cuddyer (21, K Gabbard). RBI - R White (8). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Watkins 1. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Casilla-N Punto-J Morneau). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 001 -- 1 MINNESOTA - 010 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 3 2 1 1 1 2 0 3.79 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era C Silva 3 4 1 1 0 3 1 4.28 WP - K Gabbard. Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 38-24; C Silva 49-33. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 5-2; C Silva 4-2. Batters faced: K Gabbard 12; C Silva 12. UMPIRES: HP--Andy Fletcher. 1B--Mike Reilly. 2B--Rob Drake. 3B--Adam Dowdy. 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 4 0 MINNESOTA 0 1 0 1 2 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.295, 0-FOR-1) J MORNEAU (.283, 1-FOR-1) M CUDDYER (.279, 1-FOR-1)</div>
