After all the runs the Texas Rangers scored in the first two games of their series against Minnesota, they struggled again when facing a left-handed starter.
Minnesota lefty Brian Duensing held Texas to one run over 6 2-3 innings and the Twins -- after giving up 28 runs in two games started by right-handers -- beat the Rangers 7-2 on Wednesday night.
Before their run-scoring barrage against Minnesota that included a 20-6 victory in the opener and then a 9-8 loss, the Rangers had managed only four singles against Toronto left-hander Brett Cecil in a 3-0 loss Sunday night.
"We just didn't get them, that's the only thing that I can say," manager Ron Washington said when asked if it was just a coincidence of having another bad night against a left-hander.
Duensing (8-8) outpitched Colby Lewis (10-8), who suffered his first loss since June 11. Lewis had a personal-best winning streak of five games over the right-hander's previous seven starts.
Lewis struck out five and walked two while allowing eight hits in 6 2-3 innings.
"It was one of those nights where I felt like I made mistakes and they didn't hit it. Then I would make a mistake with runners in scoring position, especially with two outs and runners in scoring position in the fifth, they just put the bat on the ball and got some key hits," Lewis said. "I just didn't get away with very many mistakes tonight."
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Lewis has allowed an AL-high 26 homers after giving up solo shots by Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer.
Mauer's two-out homer in the first inning was his first in 54 games, dating to September. He spent two months on the disabled list this season. Cuddyer led off the fourth with his 15th homer.
"He got a breaking ball up to Cuddyer and he left a fastball that he was trying to get in on Mauer up, and then Mauer popped one through the hole to get another RBI," Washington said.
In the fifth, Mauer and Cuddyer had consecutive RBI singles to put the Twins up 4-1.
"I felt like I had pretty good stuff. I felt like I commanded the fastball pretty good," Lewis said. "It was just one of those days."
Alexi Casilla had a two-out double, then scored on the single by Mauer, who advanced to second on left fielder Josh Hamilton's throw to the plate. Cuddyer then singled to center.
"Four runs, I'm not afraid of four runs. I figured we can get some runs on the board, it didn't happen," Washington said. "(Lewis) had a good fastball, he had a good breaking ball, he had all of his pitches good. ... I mean he got us into the seventh inning and we were still in the ballgame."
Elvis Andrus had a leadoff double in the fourth for Texas and scored on a groundout by Michael Young. Yorvit Torrealba added an RBI single in the ninth.
After leading off the sixth with a single, Andrus moved to second on a deep flyball to center by Hamilton. But with Young at the plate, Andrus was thrown out trying to steal third base when catcher Mauer's throw beat him by several feet. Young then singled.
"Just a bad decision. ... He had already done a great thing getting to second base," Washington said. "Just trying to make something happen and just tried to make it happen at the wrong time."
Andrus, who has 30 stolen bases this season, knows he should stayed at second, especially after Young's hit that would have certainly sent him home.
"That's not a really good feeling," Andrus said.
Notes: Minnesota has won five of seven against the Rangers this season. They wrap up the season series Thursday night. ... The Twins and Yankees are the only AL teams Lewis hasn't beaten in the regular season. Lewis did win twice against New York in last year's AL championship series. ... Washington was still finishing up his duties as the AL All-Star manager. On a table in his office were 16 dozen baseballs MLB sent him to sign. The balls were already signed by the rest of the All-Stars in Arizona two weeks ago. ... The Rangers went over 2 million in attendance in their 55th home game.
