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

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE
TEX: C.J. WILSON (2-1, 2.29) STARTING THE 8TH
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MAUER (.296, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: C Wilson relieved K Millwood.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0
MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J Mauer (.296, 0-FOR-3)</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 0 0 2 0
MINNESOTA 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - C.J. WILSON
MIN - JOHAN SANTANA

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: R VAZQUEZ (.231, 0-FOR-2)
I KINSLER (.249, 0-FOR-3)
B WILKERSON (.226, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS MINNESOTA (1) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Kinsler 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .249
B Wilkerson lf 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .226
M Young ss 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 .303
S Sosa dh 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 .246
M Byrd cf 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 .314
G Laird c 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 .229
N Cruz rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .212
J Saltalamacchia 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .188
R Vazquez 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .231

Totals 26 0 2 0 0 17 4

BATTING: 2B - S Sosa (22, J Santana). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
M Byrd 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: DP: 2 (M Young-I Kinsler-J Saltalamacchia, M Young-J
Saltalamacchia).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .243
J Mauer dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .295
T Hunter cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .298
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 3 0 1 .283
M Cuddyer rf 3 1 1 1 1 0 2 .275
M Redmond c 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .285
R White lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .145
J Tyner lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
T Watkins 3b 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .375
N Punto ss 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .204

Totals 26 1 4 1 6 4 9

BATTING: HR - M Cuddyer (12, 2nd inning off K Millwood 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - M
Cuddyer (63). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Mauer 2, A Casilla 2.
GIDP - M Redmond, M Cuddyer. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - N Punto (15, 2nd base off K Millwood/G Laird).


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 000 000 00 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 010 000 00 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Millwood 7 4 1 1 5 3 1 5.39
C Wilson 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.25

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana 8 2 0 0 0 17 0 2.88

Pitches-strikes: K Millwood 98-58; C Wilson 14-8; J Santana 112-83. Ground
balls-fly balls: K Millwood 10-8; C Wilson 0-2; J Santana 2-5. Batters faced: K
Millwood 28; C Wilson 4; J Santana 26.

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 - PITCHING CHANGE
MIN: JOE NATHAN (3-2, 1.83) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: R VAZQUEZ (.231, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Nathan relieved J Santana.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0
MINNESOTA 1 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: R Vazquez (.231, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

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

BATTERIES: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD, C.J. WILSON (8TH) AND GERALD LAIRD

MIN - JOHAN SANTANA, JOE NATHAN (9TH) AND MIKE REDMOND

HOME RUNS: TEX - NONE

MIN - MICHAEL CUDDYER (12) OFF KEVIN MILLWOOD IN THE 2ND, 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
MINNESOTA 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 x 1 4 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD, C.J. WILSON (8TH) AND GERALD LAIRD

MIN - JOHAN SANTANA, JOE NATHAN (9TH) AND MIKE REDMOND


WP - JOHAN SANTANA (13-9)
LP - KEVIN MILLWOOD (8-10)
SAVE - JOE NATHAN (27)

HOME RUNS: TEX - NONE

MIN - MICHAEL CUDDYER (12) OFF KEVIN MILLWOOD IN THE 2ND, 0 ON


TIME: 2:19 ATT: 36,353

PROBABLES: SEA - HORACIO RAMIREZ (7-4, 7.38)
MIN - MATT GARZA (2-3, 2.05)

PROBABLES: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA (3-8, 6.30)
BAL - DANIEL CABRERA (9-12, 4.93)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS MINNESOTA (1) - FINAL

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Kinsler 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .248
B Wilkerson lf 4 0 0 0 0 3 1 .226
M Young ss 4 0 0 0 0 4 1 .303
S Sosa dh 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 .246
M Byrd cf 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 .314
G Laird c 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 .229
N Cruz rf 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .212
J Saltalamacchia 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 .188
R Vazquez 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .230

Totals 30 0 2 0 0 19 6

BATTING: 2B - S Sosa (22, J Santana). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
M Byrd 1, M Young 1. Team LOB - 3.

BASERUNNING: SB - I Kinsler (16, 2nd base off J Nathan/M Redmond).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (M Young-I Kinsler-J Saltalamacchia, M Young-J
Saltalamacchia).


MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Casilla 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .243
J Mauer dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .295
T Hunter cf 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 .298
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 3 0 1 .283
M Cuddyer rf 3 1 1 1 1 0 2 .275
M Redmond c 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .285
R White lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .145
J Tyner lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
T Watkins 3b 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .375
N Punto ss 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .204

Totals 26 1 4 1 6 4 9

BATTING: HR - M Cuddyer (12, 2nd inning off K Millwood 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - M
Cuddyer (63). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Mauer 2, A Casilla 2.
GIDP - M Redmond, M Cuddyer. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - N Punto (15, 2nd base off K Millwood/G Laird).

FIELDING: E - J Nathan (1, catch).


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 000 000 000 -- 0
MINNESOTA - 010 000 00x -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Millwood (L, 8-10) 7 4 1 1 5 3 1 5.39
C Wilson 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.25

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
J Santana (W, 13-9) 8 2 0 0 0 17 0 2.88
J Nathan (S, 27) 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.80

Pitches-strikes: K Millwood 98-58; C Wilson 14-8; J Santana 112-83; J Nathan
14-10. Ground balls-fly balls: K Millwood 10-8; C Wilson 0-2; J Santana 2-5; J
Nathan 0-1. Batters faced: K Millwood 28; C Wilson 4; J Santana 26; J Nathan 4.


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

T--2:19. Att--36,353.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
TEXAS 0
MINNESOTA 1 FINAL</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEXAS (0) AT MINNESOTA (1) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MINNESOTA 2ND: M Cuddyer homered to center. M Redmond flied out to right.
R White flied out to right. T Watkins grounded out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at MINNESOTA

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEXAS (0) AT MINNESOTA (1) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Texas Starting Lineups -- I Kinsler 2B, B Wilkerson LF, M Young SS, S Sosa DH,
M Byrd CF, G Laird C, N Cruz RF, J Saltalamacchia 1B, R Vazquez 3B, K Millwood RHP.

Minnesota Starting Lineups -- A Casilla 2B, J Mauer DH, T Hunter CF, J Morneau 1B,
M Cuddyer RF, M Redmond C, R White LF, T Watkins 3B, N Punto SS, J Santana LHP.

Umpires -- Rob Drake (HP), Adam Dowdy (1B), Andy Fletcher (2B), Mike Reilly (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


TEXAS 1ST: I Kinsler grounded out to shortstop. B Wilkerson struck out
swinging. M Young struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0,
MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 1ST: A Casilla grounded out to shortstop. J Mauer flied out to
left. T Hunter singled to left. J Morneau flied out to center. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0.

TEXAS 2ND: S Sosa struck out looking. M Byrd struck out swinging. G Laird
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 0.

MINNESOTA 2ND: M Cuddyer homered to center. M Redmond flied out to right.
R White flied out to right. T Watkins grounded out to third. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1.

TEXAS 3RD: N Cruz grounded out to shortstop. J Saltalamacchia struck out
swinging. R Vazquez struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0,
MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 3RD: N Punto grounded out to second. A Casilla lined out to
shortstop. J Mauer flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0,
MINNESOTA 1.

TEXAS 4TH: I Kinsler struck out swinging. B Wilkerson popped out to third.
M Young struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 4TH: T Hunter flied out to center. J Morneau walked. M Cuddyer
walked, J Morneau to second. M Redmond grounded into double play, shortstop to
second to first, M Cuddyer out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0,
MINNESOTA 1.

TEXAS 5TH: S Sosa singled to left. M Byrd struck out swinging. G Laird
struck out swinging. N Cruz flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 5TH: R White flied out to center. T Watkins walked. N Punto
walked, T Watkins to second. A Casilla grounded out to first, T Watkins to
third, N Punto to second. J Mauer grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1.

TEXAS 6TH: J Saltalamacchia flied out to right. R Vazquez lined out to
first. I Kinsler flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0,
MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 6TH: T Hunter struck out swinging. J Morneau walked. M Cuddyer
grounded into double play, shortstop to first, J Morneau out at second.(0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1.

TEXAS 7TH: B Wilkerson struck out swinging. M Young struck out swinging.
S Sosa doubled to deep left. M Byrd struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 7TH: M Redmond grounded out to second. R White struck out
swinging. T Watkins singled to center. N Punto singled to right, T Watkins to
third. N Punto stole second. A Casilla struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1.

TEXAS 8TH: J Tyner in left field. G Laird struck out swinging. N Cruz
struck out swinging. J Saltalamacchia struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1.

MINNESOTA 8TH: C Wilson relieved K Millwood. J Mauer struck out looking.
T Hunter flied out to right. J Morneau walked. M Cuddyer flied out to right.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1.

TEXAS 9TH: J Nathan relieved J Santana. R Vazquez flied out to center.
I Kinsler safe at first on error by pitcher J Nathan. I Kinsler stole second.
B Wilkerson struck out looking. M Young struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
1 Error) TEXAS 0, MINNESOTA 1.</div>

 

Santana strikes out 17 as Twins top Rangers

<h3>MINNESOTA 1, TEXAS 0</h3>By Anthony Maggio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The Minnesota Twins were waiting for anoutstanding performance from Johan Santana in the second halfthis season. On Sunday, he was even better than expected.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner pitched eight scorelessinnings and set a team record with a career-high 17 strikeoutsto lead the Twins to a 1-0 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Michael Cuddyer hit a solo home run in the second inning - theonly run Santana would need - for the Twins, who took the rubbermatch of the three-game set and have won four of their lastfive games.


Santana (13-9), who has a penchant for second-half success, wasdominant from the start, striking out five of the first sixbatters he faced. He struck out all but two Rangers his firsttime through the order and had a no-hitter with nine strikeoutsthrough the first four innings.


Sammy Sosa ended the no-hit bid with a soft liner to left tolead off the fifth inning, but Santana struck out the next twobatters on his way to retiring another eight consecutivehitters.


Sosa nearly ended Santana's shutout chances in the seventhinning, lofting a 1-2 pitch high into the left field seats thathooked just foul. Sosa doubled the next pitch down the line,but Santana struck out Marlon Byrd swinging for a third time toend the threat.


Nelson Cruz was the only Texas hitter without a strikeout aftertwo trips through the batting order, but Santana struck him outswinging for his 16th strikeout of the game in the eighth inning- surpassing the previous team high of 15 strikeouts.

Santana struck out the side in the second and eighth innings.Joe Nathan then tossed the ninth for his 27th save in 29chances.


Santana's second-half dominance coming into this season has beenwell-chronicled. From 2003-06, the reigning Cy Young Awardwinner was 40-4 with a major league-leading 419 strikeouts afterthe All-Star break.


This season, however, he had gone just 2-3 with 49 strikeouts inseven starts following the All-Star Game. Santana had won justone of his last four decisions and was 1-3 in his last sixstarts.


But after setting a season high by striking out 13 Rangers whenhe faced them in Texas on May 22, he matched his career highwith 14 strikeouts for the third time in his career.

His last 14-strikeout performance came on June 2, 2005 vs.Cleveland. Santana reached double-digit strikeouts for thefifth time this season and the 37th time in his career.

Lost in the display was a strong showing from his counterpart,Texas starter Kevin Millwood (8-10). After allowing Cuddyer'ssolo home run to lead off the second inning, Millwood didn'tallow another hit until Tommy Watkins' two-out single in theseventh.


Millwood walked five of Minnesota's hitters in between butinduced an inning-ending double play from Mike Redmond in thefourth, a soft groundout from Joe Mauer with runners on secondand third and two outs in the fifth, and an inning-ending doubleplay from Cuddyer in the sixth.


Mauer's groundout extended the defending AL batting champion'shitless streak to 14 at-bats.


Millwood gave up back-to-back singles to Watkins and Nick Puntoin the seventh, and Punto stole second base to once again putrunners on second and third. But Alexi Casilla struck outswinging, pushing the Twins to 0-for-19 with runners in scoringposition in their last three games and 2-for-33 in their lastfour.


Justin Morneau walked three times for the Twins, who managedjust four hits in the game.

 

Santana strikes out 17 as Twins top Rangers

<h3>MINNESOTA 1, TEXAS 0</h3>By Anthony Maggio
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The Minnesota Twins were waiting for anoutstanding performance from Johan Santana in the second halfthis season. On Sunday, he was even better than expected.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner pitched eight scorelessinnings and set a team record with a career-high 17 strikeoutsto lead the Twins to a 1-0 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Michael Cuddyer hit a solo home run in the second inning - theonly run Santana would need - for the Twins, who took the rubbermatch of the three-game set and have won four of their lastfive games.


"I thought from the first hitter on, the ball was coming out ofhis hand just effortless," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhiresaid. "You could see it, it was like no-hitter stuff."

Santana (13-9), who has a penchant for second-half success, wasdominant from the start, striking out five of the first sixbatters he faced. He struck out all but two Rangers his firsttime through the order and had a no-hitter with nine strikeoutsthrough the first four innings.


Sammy Sosa ended the no-hit bid with a soft liner to left tolead off the fifth inning, but Santana struck out the next twobatters on his way to retiring another eight consecutivehitters.


Sosa nearly ended Santana's shutout chances in the seventhinning, lofting a 1-2 pitch high into the left field seats thathooked just foul. Sosa doubled the next pitch down the line,but Santana struck out Marlon Byrd swinging for a third time toend the threat.


"The way he threw today he might have gotten 17 strikeoutsagainst whoever," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Itmight have been the 1927 Yankees."


Santana struck out the side twice, including in the eighthinning with his pitch-count over 100 and the 36,353 fansscreaming wildly. Joe Nathan then tossed the ninth for his 27thsave in 29 chances.


Santana doffed his cap as he came off the field in the eighth,signaling the end of his outing. Gardenhire said Santana toldhim, "We've got the best closer in the game. Let him work."

Nathan worked around an error in the ninth, sealing the win forSantana after a performance he ranked among his career best.

"That was a pretty good one, especially the way everything endedup," Santana said. "We won by one run and I got 17strikeouts. But to see all the fans getting into it and geteverything going, that's pretty special.


"This game wouldn't be anything if you didn't have the fans outthere. Any time you can get the fans in the game, it's alwaysgood. I appreciate everything they do."


Santana's second-half dominance coming into this season has beenwell-chronicled. From 2003-06, the reigning Cy Young Awardwinner was 40-4 with a major league-leading 419 strikeouts afterthe All-Star break.


This season, however, he had gone just 2-3 with 49 strikeouts inseven starts following the All-Star Game. Santana had won justone of his last four decisions and was 1-3 in his last sixstarts.


But after setting a season high by striking out 13 Rangers whenhe faced them in Texas on May 22, he matched his career highwith 14 strikeouts for the third time in his career.

His last 14-strikeout performance came on June 2, 2005 vs.Cleveland. Santana reached double-digit strikeouts for thefifth time this season and the 37th time in his career.

Santana threw only four sliders, according to pitching coachRick Anderson, not needing anything besides the great locationon his fastball and his devastating changeup.


"You hope he leaves pitches in the wrong spot, that's all youcan hope for," Washington said. "You can have all the plans youwant. If he has his changeup working the way he did today,your plans go out the door."


How do you hit Santana's changeup?


"The only thing you can do is sit on the changeup and if hethrows you three straight fastballs, you're (done)," Washingtonsaid.


Lost in the display was a strong showing from his counterpart,Texas starter Kevin Millwood (8-10). After allowing Cuddyer'ssolo home run to lead off the second inning, Millwood didn'tallow another hit until Tommy Watkins' two-out single in theseventh.


Millwood walked five of Minnesota's hitters in between butinduced an inning-ending double play from Mike Redmond in thefourth, a soft groundout from Joe Mauer with runners on secondand third and two outs in the fifth, and an inning-ending doubleplay from Cuddyer in the sixth.


Mauer's groundout extended the defending AL batting champion'shitless streak to 14 at-bats.


Still, Millwood left frustrated.


"I didn't like it," Millwood said of Sunday's contest. "But hewent out and dominated. That's all you can say. You run upagainst that, you just have to tip your hat."


Millwood gave up back-to-back singles to Watkins and Nick Puntoin the seventh, and Punto stole second base to once again putrunners on second and third. But Alexi Casilla struck outswinging, pushing the Twins to 0-for-19 with runners in scoringposition in their last three games and 2-for-33 in their lastfour.


Justin Morneau walked three times for the Twins, who managedjust four hits in the game.