Minnesota Twins Win Two of Three Against Rangers

Minnesota Twins Game Grades in 5-4 Win

The Minnesota Twins were sloppy in the field.

Their pitchers had trouble throwing strikes. They made costly base-running mistakes. They were down 1-0 after just two pitches into the game.

So, of course, the Twins beat the American League’s best team, against arguably their top pitcher, and one of the favorites to start the All-Star game.

Starter Kyle Gibson threw his second straight quality game, defeating the Texas Rangers’ starter Cole Hamels.

Hamels had allowed just four earned runs total in his last five starts but the Twins roughed him up for five earned and chasing him in the fifth inning.

The former World Series MVP allowed the first four batters in the fifth to reach; giving up two walks and two singles with the second hit scoring the Minnesota Twins’ fourth run to make it 4-2.

Reliever Tony Barnette induced a short flyout by Kurt Suzuki, keeping the bases loaded with one out.

Eddie Rosario, activated prior to today’s game, hit a grounder to second which appeared to allow the Rangers to turn the double play to get out of the inning, but the Twins challenged the play at first.

The ruling was overturned, and the replay showed that Rosario just beat the throw and the eventual game winning run scored on the play.

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Gibson threw well, but his lack of control forced him to call it a day in the seventth inning. He should have gotten out of the inning, but a throwing error by Miguel Sano on what would have been the third out extended the inning.

After walking the next batter, Gibson was pulled after throwing 106 pitches, only 66 for strikes.

He only walked two, striking out five, and scattered just five hits – one of them a home run by Shin-Soo Choo leading off the game.

After Ryan Pressly walked Mitch Moreland to load the bases, the Rangers pinch-ran for Moreland with Robinson Chirinos.

Choo then lined a double into left, but it didn’t clear the bases as the trailing Chirinos didn’t get a good jump on a ball with two outs, and it left the game at 5-4 in the Twins’ favor.

That proved large after Ian Desmond grounded out (another Sano bobble) to end the threat.

In the ninth inning, Brandon Kintzler came on to try for his fourth career save.

He too, had trouble throwing strikes, but recorded a fly out and ground out on full counts.

After Chirinos doubled (on another full count), Kintlzer finally got Choo to hit a grounder to Brian Dozier at second, who had the ball kick away from him, but recovered in time to throw out Choo at first base and end the game.

B+. 11 hits, 4 walks, 7 strikeouts, 0 home runs and 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Dozier’s hitting streak came to an end yesterday, but he had the biggest hit today, a two-run triple in the third inning after Sano was credited with an infield single.. . Brian Dozier. OFFENSE

B. Team totals: 5 hits allowed, 2 walks, 1 home run and 6 strikeouts. Gibson allowed all four runs, though two were unearned. After his first seven starts of the season garnered no wins, Gibson has now won his last two for the Minnesota Twins.. . Kyle Gibson. STARTERS

C+. Team totals: 3 hits allowed, 1 walks, 0 home runs and 1 strikeouts. Pressly let two inherited runners score. <a href=. . Brandon Kintzler. RELIEVERS

D. Twins made 1 error but had trouble fielding the ball cleanly all day. Sano looked good at times, shaky at others. <a href=. . Max Kepler. DEFENSE

Next: Kepler, Sano & The Trade Deadline

MVT: Kyle Gibson – For winning the duel against Cole Hamels

The Minnesota Twins will play a day game on July 4th at 1:10 CDT against the Oakland A’s at Target Field. Ricky Nolasco (3-6) will get the start opposite Kendall Graveman (3-6). The game will not be televised locally.

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