Texas @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( May 29, 2010 ) Texas 3, Minnesota 8
The Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins began their three-game series with each team atop their respective divisions.
The Twins have won the first two games to extend their lead in the American League Central, while the Rangers have fallen behind the Oakland Athletics in the AL West.
The Rangers will try to avoid a sweep and salvage Game 3 tonight, sending left-hander Derek Holland to the hill. The Twins, meanwhile, will go with right-hander Scott Baker in ESPN’s nationally televised game.
Holland has pitched well since being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City, going 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA. He will be on seven days’ rest, last starting on May 22 against the Chicago Cubs. Holland went six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
Holland did come out of the bullpen in the Rangers’ 5-2 loss to Kansas City on Wednesday, throwing 23 pitches in the eighth inning.
This marks the first time Holland will start on the road this season. In two career starts against Minnesota, he is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA.
Offensively, the Rangers have struggled in the first two games against the Twins, scoring only two runs in each of the games.
On Saturday, the heart of the lineup – Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero – went 2-for-16 with no RBIs. Julio Borbon was the lone Rangers player to come through with two run-scoring singles.
The Twins, on the other hand, eventually got plenty of offensive support Saturday, breaking loose for six runs in the seventh to cruise to an 8-3 victory.
With the game tied 2-2, Minnesota got RBI hits from Delmon Young, J.J. Hardy, Orlando Hudson and Justin Morneau in the pivotal seventh inning.
And Baker would love to see that type of big inning again today. Last year against the Rangers, Baker was 2-0 with a 3.45 ERA.
In his last start against the Yankees on Tuesday, Baker pitched five innings, allowing only three hits, before the game was suspended. Still, Baker has yet to win a game this month, with his last victory coming on April 28 when he threw eight strong innings against Baltimore.
Finally, it’s worth noting, the Twins have already surpassed the 1-million mark in paid attendance at the new Target Field. It’s been the earliest the club has reached that number in its history, needing only 26 games.