Tag Archives: Texas Rangers

Game 21: Twins at Rangers

The Tale of Two Lefty's
Hector Santiago (2-1, 2.19 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 4 BB:17 SO's through 24.2 IP, 3.65 RS/9)
-vs-
Cole Hamels (1-0, 2.77 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 9 BB:14 SO's through 26 IP, 7.62 RS/9)

I actually think Santiago's a better pitcher than I'd given him credit for. As cheaptoy noted, this is probably due to the fact that someone was willing to trade him to the Twins in exchange for Ricky Nolasco.

Fun Fact: Mauer is 0-12 facing Hamels - most at-bats without a hit against any pitcher... so, he's due?

After some early miscues and missed opportunities, the Twins nearly managed a 'GreekHouse call' last night, falling only 1 run short of the necessary 8. Sure wouldn't mind them accomplishing that goal this evening.

Last year the team was never over .500 (closest they'd get was 17.5 games back at 46-66, a .411 winning percentage) through 20 games, they were already 6-14. At 10-10, the fellas are in 4th place, but only 1.5 games behind 1st place Detroit. A win puts the Twins back over .500 on the season.

Game 113: Rangers at Twins

Lineups:
Texas Rangers:
1. CF D. DeShields Jr. (R)
2. RF Shin-Soo Choo (L)
3. DH Prince Fielder (L)
4. 3B Adrian Beltre (R)
5. 1B Mitch Moreland (L)
6. LF Josh Hamilton (L)
7. SS Elvis Andrus (R)
8. 2B Rougned Odor (L)
9. CB Bobby Wilson (R)

Minnesota Twins:
1. CF Aaron Hicks (S)
2. 2B Brian Dozier (R)
3. 1B Joe Mauer (L)
4. DH Miguel Sano (R)
5. 3B Trevor Plouffe (R)
6. RF Torii Hunter (R)
7. LF Eddie Rosario (L)
8. C Kurt Suzuki (R)
9. SS Eduardo Nunez (R)

Pitchers:
TEX: Nick Martinez (R) (7-6, 3.91)
MIN: Mike Pelfrey (R) (5-7, 4.06)

Go Twins!

Game 60: Twins at Rangers. 7:10pm

The Twins are in a bit of a tailspin at the moment losing 5 of the last 6 games. I still have faith that the ship will right itself and we will be back in first place in no time.

 

Wandy Rodriguez pitches for the Rangers. Tommy Milone for the Twins. Will we get "strike everyone out like in AAA" Tommy or "12 walks to 13 strikeouts in the Majors" Tommy . I hope its the AAA guy.

Game 7 Recap: Rangers 4 — Twins 1

MINNESOTA 1 -- TEXAS 4
Twins Record: 2-5
Lowest WPA - Swarzak (7 IP, 4 R, 0 BB, 3 SO), Mauer (1 for 4, SO, GIDP)
Highest WPA - Willingham (1 for 2, R, BB, HBP)
Fangraphs - MLB Recap

------------

The Twins made some solid contact in the first few innings, but Texas made some sparkling defensive plays to keep the damage to a Danny Valencia sac fly in the second. 1-0 Twins for the first time all season. But would it be enough?

It would not. Swarzak put up another perfectly reasonable start, the big Texas inning was one where the Twins needed a sparkling defensive play or two. Instead the first 5 Rangers reached (4 singles and an error) resulting in 3 runs. Minnesota would get a few guys on base over the course of the game but never get the big hit to bring the game back within reach.

There are plenty of people who will say Texas is better than the Twins. Tonight the Rangers got a little bit more pitching, a little bit more hitting, and a little bit more defense. That was enough to make this a not terribly exciting end to the Twins longest winning streak of the year.

2012 Game 7: Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins

Matt Harrison
v
Anthony Swarzak

Last season was crap, but the Twins managed to beat the AL champions five of the eight times they played including three out of four in Minnesota. The bad news: Swarzak pitched in that game. The good news: the loser was Duensing, who went two innings and gave up seven runs. Swarzak went the next six, giving up only two runs.

Harrison also lost in the homestand, in the one game where Liriano was awesome. That was the game where Harrison got hit in the head, the Twins decided to score a bunch, and messed up Liriano's groove. Don't mess up Swarzak's groove and 158-4 stays in sight.