Errors Doom Rangers In Loss To Twins

Even Josh Hamilton couldn't make up for the Texas Rangers' sloppy play on Sunday.

Hamilton hit his 35th homer and drove in four runs, but the Rangers made a couple of costly fielding blunders in a 6-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

"The frustrating thing was that we didn't play as sharply today," Texas outfielder David Murphy said. "If we did, it would have been a different outcome."

Texas' defensive struggles helped the Twins grab a 3-2 lead in the third.

Scott Feldman fielded Joe Mauer's grounder and had Ben Revere in a rundown between second and third. The Rangers, however, couldn't execute the play as third baseman Adrian Beltre dropped the ball, allowing Revere to reach third.

"We messed up the play there," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. Despite those miscues, the Rangers still had a chance to keep the Twins off the board in the inning. 

Hamilton caught Justin Morneau's shallow pop in left. He dropped the ball transferring it from his glove to his hand, and Revere scored on what was ruled a sacrifice fly "That was a run that probably wouldn't have been on the board," Washington said. 

Texas' woes in the field overshadowed another huge game from Hamilton. He hit a two-run single in the first, then belted a two-run homer in the sixth that trimmed Minnesota's lead to 6-4. The big game ran his total to 111 RBIs, the most in the majors. "He's been barreling up the ball when they make a mistake," Washington said. 

The AL West leaders got three straight singles after play resumed, capped by Hamilton's hit that put Texas on top 2-1. Two batters after Hamilton's 35th home run, Nelson Cruz added a solo shot to cut Minnesota's lead to 6-5.

Texas center fielder Craig Gentry took a home run away from Mauer in the ninth. Gentry went back to the nearly 9-foot wall, jumped up and snared the drive before it cleared the fence.

"The catch was huge," Washington said. "We were still one swing away from tying the ballgame."