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A series against Texas appears to be just what Minnesota needed to get its offense back on track.
The Twins will try to put together another big night at the plate Wednesday when they continue their four-game series with
the Rangers at the Metrodome.
Minnesota (23-22) has scored 18 runs in the first two games of this series, winning both. The Twins managed only eight runs
while losing two of three in Colorado over the weekend and had scored three or fewer runs in seven of 13 games heading into
this set.
On Tuesday, however, the Twins had a 9-0 run lead after three innings en route to an 11-4 win over Texas (22-25).
Glen Perkins
earned his first win in his third major league start.
"Obviously you want to get out there and score some runs for your pitcher," catcher
Joe Mauer
said. "We've been struggling to get guys in for the last couple of weeks. So tonight it was important - keep attacking the
zone."
Alexi Casilla
,
Mike Lamb
, and
Delmon Young
each had two RBIs for the Twins, who won for the third time in eight games. Casilla, playing in his fifth game since being
recalled from Triple-A Rochester, had three RBIs in Minnesota's 12-inning, 7-6 win on Monday.
"Kind of a relaxing evening after a long night last night," manager
Ron Gardenhire
said.
The Rangers, meanwhile, have dropped three straight after winning nine of 11. They have allowed 23 runs during the skid with
their starters compiling a 10.80 ERA.
Texas failed to get an extra base for the first time this season on Tuesday.
"It was just one of those nights," manager
Ron Washington
said. "We've got to take our shower and let that one go down the drain.
Now, the Rangers are hoping a former Twins starter can help them end their slide.
Sidney Ponson
(2-0, 3.52 ERA) pitched for Minnesota last season, going 2-5 with a 6.93 ERA in seven starts before he was released on May
22. The Rangers signed him to a minor league deal on March 9, and he was called up on April 26 - to face the Twins.
Ponson gave up five runs - one earned - in 5 1-3 innings in that outing, but the Rangers lost 12-6. Over his career, Ponson
has gone 9-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 14 appearances - 13 starts - against Minnesota.
Ponson won his next two starts for the Rangers, giving up just one run in each, but has allowed 13 runs in 10 1-3 innings
in his last two. He gave up seven runs - three earned - in five innings but escaped without a decision in the Rangers' 16-8
win over Houston on Friday.
Minnesota counters with
Nick Blackburn
(4-2, 3.77), who won his second straight start on Friday, allowing two runs in seven innings of a 4-2 victory in Colorado.
Blackburn, who made six relief appearances in 2007 before entering the rotation for 2008, has gone at least six innings in
his last six outings.
Blackburn has faced the Rangers once before, giving up career highs of five earned runs and 11 hits in six innings of Minnesota's
10-inning, 6-5 loss in Texas on April 25.
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