Adolis García homered and Corey Seager singled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as the Texas Rangers defeated the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Monday night.
Twins star outfielder Byron Buxton exited in the seventh with right hip tightness. A team spokesman said he’s considered day-to-day.
Texas took three of four in the weekend wraparound series and is 5-3 since replacing Chris Woodward with interim manager Tony Beasley last week.
The playoff-contending Twins turned their second triple play of the season after first baseman Jose Miranda caught Nathaniel Lowe’s line drive in the fourth.
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A.J. Alexy (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Cole Ragans to earn the win. Brett Martin, José Leclerc and Matt Moore blanked the Twins the rest of the way, with Moore earning his third save of the season.
Sonny Gray (7-4) gave up two runs on five hits while fanning six. He gave up three singles in the sixth inning, with Seager’s hit driving home Brad Miller to give Texas the lead.
Over the first three games of the series, the Twins were 1 for 19 with runners in scoring position, and those struggles continued again on Monday.
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In the first inning, Carlos Correa hit a one-out triple on a ball that center fielder Leody Tavares lost in the sun. Buxton walked and stole second. But Miranda struck out and Max Kepler grounded out to end the threat.
In the third, Miranda and Kepler again had a chance to put the Twins ahead with two on and one out, but Miranda grounded out and Kepler flied out to keep the game scoreless.
The Twins finally broke through in the fourth inning when Nick Gordon’s double drove home Gio Urshela from third for the game’s first run. It was their only hit in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position on the night.
Texas tied it when García hit the first pitch of the fifth inning deep into the second deck in left-center. The hit extended his career-best hitting streak to 19 games.
TWINS TURN THREE
The Twins pulled off a triple play with Marcus Semien on second and Seager on first. Miranda caught Lowe’s liner and stepped on first base, and his throw to Correa beat Semien back to second base for the third out.
Minnesota also turned a triple play on July 4 against the White Sox in Chicago.
NEXT UP
Rangers: RHP Dane Dunning (3-6, 4.06 ERA) will take the mound as the Rangers open a two-game series at Colorado on Tuesday. Dunning is 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA in three starts this month.
Twins: Minnesota starts a three-game series in Houston on Tuesday night. RHP Tyler Mahle (shoulder fatigue) will miss his turn in the rotation after being placed on the IL Saturday. The Twins have yet to name a replacement to take his spot for the series opener.
