GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TEXAS (54-68) at MINNESOTA (61-61)

AL: TEXAS (54-68) at MINNESOTA (61-61)

<h3>Twins needs solid start from Santana</h3>

<div class="pre">Texas (54-68) at Minnesota (61-61) 2:10 pm EDT</div>

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Johan Santana is the perfect man to haveon the mound as the Minnesota Twins try and rebound after adisappointing loss.


Santana tries to help the Twins take the rubber game of athree-game series with the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

Minnesota's offense anemic offense reared its ugly head again onSaturday, as it was held to just eight hits in a 5-0 loss. TheTwins left 10 runners on base and were shut out for a majorleague-leading 12th time.


A good cure for a bad offense is dominant starting pitching.That is where the reigning American League Cy Young Award winnercomes in.


Santana (12-9, 3.02 ERA) has allowed more than three earned runsjust once in his last 10 starts. However, he has lost three ofhis last four starts. On Monday, the lefthander allowed threeruns and seven hits in seven innings but was not involved in adecision against Seattle.


Minnesota (61-61), which rallied late to win the AL Central lastseason, trails the Cleveland Indians (68-54) by seven games,and is quickly falling out of the race having lost eight of itslast 12 games.


Kevin Millwood (8-9, 5.63) takes the hill for Texas, which haswon four of its last six games. Millwood, who has just one winsince the All-Star break, is coming of one of his best starts ofthe season. The righthander allowed three runs - one earned -and four hits in seven innings with nine strikeouts in a 5-3 winover Kansas City on Tuesday.

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

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

TEXAS MINNESOTA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Ian Kinsler 2B .251 15 43 Alexi Casilla 2B .252 0 7
Jason Botts LF .204 1 5 Joe Mauer DH .299 5 52
Michael Young SS .305 7 66 Torii Hunter CF .298 24 84
Sammy Sosa DH .243 16 72 Justin Morneau 1B .284 28 91
Marlon Byrd CF .318 5 47 Michael Cuddyer RF .275 11 62
Gerald Laird C .231 7 38 Mike Redmond C .289 1 28
Nelson Cruz RF .215 6 22 Rondell White LF .153 1 8
Jarrod Saltalamacc 1B .197 2 5 Tommy Watkins 3B .357 0 0
Ramon Vazquez 3B .233 5 17 Nick Punto SS .203 1 20

Kevin Millwood RHP (8-9, 5.63) Johan Santana LHP (12-9, 3.02)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

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

TEXAS MINNESOTA
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Ian Kinsler 2B .251 15 43 Alexi Casilla 2B .252 0 7
Brad Wilkerson LF .229 17 50 Joe Mauer DH .299 5 52
Michael Young SS .305 7 66 Torii Hunter CF .298 24 84
Sammy Sosa DH .243 16 72 Justin Morneau 1B .284 28 91
Marlon Byrd CF .318 5 47 Michael Cuddyer RF .275 11 62
Gerald Laird C .231 7 38 Mike Redmond C .289 1 28
Nelson Cruz RF .215 6 22 Rondell White LF .153 1 8
Jarrod Saltalamacc 1B .197 2 5 Tommy Watkins 3B .357 0 0
Ramon Vazquez 3B .233 5 17 Nick Punto SS .203 1 20

Kevin Millwood RHP (8-9, 5.63) Johan Santana LHP (12-9, 3.02)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
WARMUPS: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD (8-9, 5.63)
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA (12-9, 3.02)

UMPIRES: HP - ROB DRAKE
1B - ADAM DOWDY
2B - ANDY FLETCHER
3B - MIKE REILLY

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
STARTING BATS: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD AND GERALD LAIRD
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA AND MIKE REDMOND

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.251, 15 HR, 43 RBI)
B WILKERSON (.229, 17 HR, 50 RBI)
M YOUNG (.305, 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 0 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: A CASILLA (.252, 0 HR, 7 RBI)
J MAUER (.299, 5 HR, 52 RBI)
T HUNTER (.298, 24 HR, 84 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
I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
B Wilkerson lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .228
M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .305
S Sosa dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
M Byrd cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215
J Saltalamacchia 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .197
R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
J Mauer dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
R White lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .153
T Watkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .357
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .203

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Millwood 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.63

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.00

Pitches-strikes: J Santana 14-10. Ground balls-fly balls: J Santana 1-0.
Batters faced: J Santana 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Andy Fletcher. 3B--Mike Reilly.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA</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 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: S SOSA (.243, 16 HR, 72 RBI)
M BYRD (.318, 5 HR, 47 RBI)
G LAIRD (.231, 7 HR, 38 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
I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
B Wilkerson lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .228
M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .305
S Sosa dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
M Byrd cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231
N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215
J Saltalamacchia 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .197
R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Mauer dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
R White lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .153
T Watkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .357
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .203

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


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

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Millwood 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.58

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.00

Pitches-strikes: K Millwood 11-7; J Santana 14-10. Ground balls-fly balls: K
Millwood 1-2; J Santana 1-0. Batters faced: K Millwood 4; J Santana 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Andy Fletcher. 3B--Mike Reilly.

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 0 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.275, 11 HR, 62 RBI)
M REDMOND (.289, 1 HR, 28 RBI)
R WHITE (.153, 1 HR, 8 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
I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
B Wilkerson lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .228
M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .305
S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242
M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .317
G Laird c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .231
N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215
J Saltalamacchia 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .197
R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 5 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Mauer dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275
M Redmond c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
R White lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .153
T Watkins 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .357
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .203

Totals 4 0 1 0 0 0 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 00 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Millwood 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.58

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 2 0 0 0 0 5 0 2.98

Pitches-strikes: K Millwood 11-7; J Santana 28-19. Ground balls-fly balls: K
Millwood 1-2; J Santana 1-0. Batters faced: K Millwood 4; J Santana 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Andy Fletcher. 3B--Mike Reilly.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MICHAEL CUDDYER (12) TO CENTER WITH 0 OUT
IN THE 2ND OFF KEVIN MILLWOOD.
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M REDMOND (.289, 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 0 0
MINNESOTA 0 1 1 2 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: N CRUZ (.215, 6 HR, 22 RBI)
J SALTALAMACCHIA (.197, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
R VAZQUEZ (.233, 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
I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
B Wilkerson lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .228
M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .305
S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242
M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .317
G Laird c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .231
N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .215
J Saltalamacchia 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .197
R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233

Totals 6 0 0 0 0 5 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Mauer dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
M Cuddyer rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .277
M Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
R White lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150
T Watkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .203

Totals 8 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - M Cuddyer (12, 2nd inning off K Millwood 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - M
Cuddyer (63). Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 00 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Millwood 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 5.61

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 2 0 0 0 0 5 0 2.98

Pitches-strikes: K Millwood 26-15; J Santana 28-19. Ground balls-fly balls: K
Millwood 2-4; J Santana 1-0. Batters faced: K Millwood 8; J Santana 6.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Andy Fletcher. 3B--Mike Reilly.

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 0 0 0
MINNESOTA 0 1 1 2 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: N PUNTO (.203, 1 HR, 20 RBI)
A CASILLA (.250, 0-FOR-1)
J MAUER (.298, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS MINNESOTA (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
B Wilkerson lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .228
M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .305
S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242
M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .317
G Laird c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .231
N Cruz rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
J Saltalamacchia 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .194
R Vazquez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .232

Totals 9 0 0 0 0 7 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Mauer dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .298
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
M Cuddyer rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .277
M Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
R White lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150
T Watkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
N Punto ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .203

Totals 8 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - M Cuddyer (12, 2nd inning off K Millwood 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - M
Cuddyer (63). Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 000 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Millwood 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 5.61

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 3 0 0 0 0 7 0 2.96

Pitches-strikes: K Millwood 26-15; J Santana 44-31. Ground balls-fly balls: K
Millwood 2-4; J Santana 2-0. Batters faced: K Millwood 8; J Santana 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Andy Fletcher. 3B--Mike Reilly.

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 0 0 0
MINNESOTA 0 1 0 1 2 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.250, 0-FOR-1)
B WILKERSON (.228, 0-FOR-1)
M YOUNG (.305, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS MINNESOTA (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
B Wilkerson lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .228
M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .305
S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242
M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .317
G Laird c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .231
N Cruz rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214
J Saltalamacchia 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .194
R Vazquez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .232

Totals 9 0 0 0 0 7 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
J Mauer dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
M Cuddyer rf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .277
M Redmond c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
R White lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .150
T Watkins 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
N Punto ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .202

Totals 11 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: HR - M Cuddyer (12, 2nd inning off K Millwood 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - M
Cuddyer (63). Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 000 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 010 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Millwood 3 2 1 1 0 0 1 5.56

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 3 0 0 0 0 7 0 2.96

Pitches-strikes: K Millwood 34-21; J Santana 44-31. Ground balls-fly balls: K
Millwood 3-6; J Santana 2-0. Batters faced: K Millwood 11; J Santana 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Adam Dowdy. 2B--Andy Fletcher. 3B--Mike Reilly.

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 0 0 0 0
MINNESOTA 0 1 0 1 2 0 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.300, 1-FOR-1)
J MORNEAU (.283, 0-FOR-1)
M CUDDYER (.277, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>