texas

Andrus' 4 RBIs Help Rangers Beat Slumping Twins

Elvis Andrus had a career-high four RBIs and Texas got the tiebreaking runs on a two-out error by Minnesota center fielder Aaron Hicks as the Rangers beat the Twins 6-2 on Friday night.

The Rangers had the bases loaded in the eighth with the game tied when Mitch Moreland hit a fly ball to straightaway center. Hicks was drifting back and reached up, but the ball ricocheted off his glove and allowed two runs to score in Minnesota's fourth consecutive loss.

After the Twins went to their fourth pitcher of the inning, Andrus had a two-run hit to make it 6-2 before he was out trying to make it a double.

Andrus' two-run homer in the seventh ended a 20-inning scoreless streak for the Rangers and put them up 2-1.

Leadoff hitter Brian Dozier scored both runs for Minnesota. Dozier walked to start the game, and his 12th homer of the season leading off the eighth made it 2-2 off reliever Tanner Scheppers (3-0).

Aaron Thompson (1-2) took over to start the eighth and the Twins, allowing a walk and a fielder's choice, made three more pitching changes in the inning.

Minnesota lefty Tommy Milone struck out eight and limited the Rangers to three hits over seven innings.

Milone had retired 12 straight and allowed only one hit before AL batting leader Prince Fielder's leadoff single in the seventh. Two batters later, Andrus hit his third homer of the season -- three innings after the Rangers shortstop slammed down his bat in frustration after striking out to end the fourth.

After Minnesota loaded the bases without an out in the first, Rangers starter Wandy Rodriguez retired 18 straight batters.

Twins cleanup hitter Trevor Plouffe, whose sacrifice fly made it 1-0 in the first, ended Rodriguez's streak with a leadoff single in the seventh. Rodriguez left with the bases loaded and two outs after the lefty's 122nd pitch, the last of a 10-pitch walk by Eduardo Escobar.

Rodriguez struck out six and walked three while throwing the most pitches by a Texas pitcher since Yu Darvish's 126 in a near no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox on May 9, 2014.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rangers: Slugger Josh Hamilton is doing a "brisk jog" on a treadmill, but still has not swung a bat since straining his left hamstring May 31. He said the tightness in his left hamstring has subsided, but still has general soreness in both hamstrings. ... LHPs Matt Harrison (spinal fusion surgery) and Martin Perez (Tommy John surgery) are both set for starts for Triple-A Round Rock, Harrison makes his third rehab start Sunday in Memphis and Perez his second next week when the Express are back home. ... LHP Derek Holland (left shoulder strain) will get another MRI next Friday.

UP NEXT

Twins: RHP Mike Pelfry, whose 2.28 ERA is fourth-lowest in the AL, starts five days after tossing eight scoreless innings against Milwaukee.

Rangers: RHP Colby Lewis will be trying to get a win against the only AL team he has never defeated as a Ranger. Lewis is 0-4 with a 7.53 ERA in seven career starts against the Twins.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us