Moreland, Gallo power Rangers over Twins
ARLINGTON -- Mitch Moreland hit a three-run home run and Joey Gallo followed with one into the upper deck in right-center field in a six-run rally that helped carry the Rangers to an 11-7 victory over the Twins on Saturday afternoon.
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Rangers starter Colby Lewis went seven innings to get the victory, the first in his career against the Twins. He allowed three runs in the third inning but retired the last 15 batters he faced. He did not return after a one-hour, 19-minute rain delay in the middle of the seventh.
Twins starter Mike Pelfrey allowed eight runs in 3 2/3 innings. That's twice as many runs as he has allowed in 28 innings over his previous four starts. The Twins have now lost five straight games.
Video: MIN@TEX: Pelfrey escapes jam in 1st with double play
"It was a little bit of a different guy than what we've seen," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "His fastball was up and his split, he was trying to find it, but when he threw it over the plate it seemed to hang a little bit."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Moreland double lost in sun: The Rangers trailed 3-1 into the bottom of the third but scored one run on a one-out double by Delino DeShields and a single by Shin-Soo Choo. After Prince Fielder singled, Moreland lofted a high fly to deep left that Eduardo Escobar lost in the sun. It fell behind him for a game-tying double. The odd thing on the play was Fielder was running from the beginning and never stopped. If Escobar had caught the ball, Fielder might have been doubled off to end the inning.
Video: MIN@TEX: Moreland blasts game-tying double in the 3rd
Twins can't turn two: Pelfrey nearly got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, when Fielder hit a hard grounder to Kennys Vargas at first base. Vargas threw to shortstop Eduardo Nunez, who got the out at second, but Pelfrey couldn't handle his throw to first. It set the stage for a three-run blast from Moreland and a solo shot from Gallo.
"A big play was not completing the 3-6-1 double play to keep it at 4-3," Molitor said. "It made it five and then they hit the big home run. So that's execution."
Video: MIN@TEX: Rangers take lead with six runs in the 4th
Lewis has big turnaround: Lewis gave up three runs in the third inning to give the Twins a 3-1 lead. But after the Rangers tied it in the bottom of the inning, Lewis retired the side in order in the fourth on just seven pitches. That was part of a stretch of 12 straight batters retired by Lewis. More >
Video: MIN@TEX: Lewis pitches seven innings, fans six
Three-run second for Minnesota: The Twins' offense has been struggling recently, as they hadn't scored more than one run in an inning since June 5. But that changed with a three-run second inning. Eddie Rosario brought home two runs with a double to left before scoring on a double by Joe Mauer. But the offense went quiet after that until scoring four runs in the ninth.
"We had a nice little three-run inning where we had some big at-bats," Molitor said. "But then we kind of went silent there."
Video: MIN@TEX: Rosario doubles to center, plates two runs
QUOTABLE
"That's the kind of ballclub we want to be and the kind of team. Double plays can kill innings when you've got an opportunity to score runs. That's something we talked about, guys running hard down the line, breaking up double plays. It's an individual trait that helps ballclubs win and are willing to do what it takes," -- Rangers manager Jeff Banister on breaking up a double play in the fourth by Choo and Fielder
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Gallo's home run was measured at 461 feet, the fourth longest in the history of the Ballpark. He also had three walks. The last time a Rangers player had a home run and three walks in a game was Mike Napoli on April 30, 2011. "What he can do is pretty special. He's strong, and has great leverage. It seems like every time he hits one, you want to be there to watch it. It's pretty special." Moreland said.
Video: MIN@TEX: Gallo hits moonshot to pad lead in the 4th
WHAT'S NEXT
Twins: Right-hander Phil Hughes starts for the Twins in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at 2:10 p.m. CT. Hughes is coming off a quality start against the Royals, as he gave up three runs over 7 2/3 innings, but was saddled with a loss.
Rangers: Right-hander Nick Martinez pitches for the Rangers at 2:05 p.m. CT Sunday against the Twins. Martinez snapped a two-game losing streak with six scoreless innings in a 2-1 win over Oakland on Tuesday.
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