Texas Rangers Exorcise Target Field Demons

The bullpen shut down yet another opponent while the offense finally punched through on Sunday.

Rangers Vs. Twins: Late Rally Gives Rangers 4-3 Victory

Nelson Cruz may actually have added some upper body strength.

After Ian Kinsler led off the eighth inning with a walk -- the first of the game for Texas -- Andrus stepped up and muscled an opposite field drive nearly to the wall in right center for a triple. The ball just cleared the glove of Clete Thomas in similar fashion to the triple from Denard Span that barely eluded Nelson Cruz in the sixth, and scored Kinsler to close the game to 3-2.

Josh Hamilton followed up by hitting the first pitch he saw absurdly deep in to the right field stands to give Texas the lead.

The comeback from the offense wouldn't have been enough without another tremendous bullpen performance. Robbie Ross, Mike Adams, and Joe Nathan -- yes, Nathan again -- combined for four more shutout innings, with four strikeouts and just two baserunners allowed.

The Rangers become the first AL team to reach eight wins, and sit four games ahead of the Angels, pending Anaheim's 7:00 p.m. game against the Yankees.

Rangers Vs. Twins: Neftali Feliz Done After Five, Texas Trails 3-1

Neftali Feliz looked strong early in his second career start, retiring the first seven hitters he faced, with only a bleeder past Mike Napoli breaking up the perfect game.

A single to start the fifth was the first legitimate hit off of him, and unfortunately the second was a blast of a home run from Clete Thomas off a change-up to give the Twins a 2-1 lead.

The sixth began with a triple just over the head of Nelson Cruz following a bad route, and after an RBI single and a walk, he was done for the day. His second start had five innings pitched, five hits, three earned runs, three strikeouts, and two walks. Considering he began the day in the rain and did not allow a lot of great contact, it was probably a better start than the line indicates, but it's still a shame he couldn't go deeper.

Robbie Ross relieved Feliz to salvage the inning with runners on first and second, and impressively struck out Justin Morneau and Josh Willingham before inducing a harmless pop fly from Chris Parmelee, keeping the game at 3-1 with an impressive relief appearance.

The Rangers have had seven hits, but the only run has come on a mammoth Mike Napoli home run that will have people checking ESPN's Hit Tracker tomorrow.

Source: FanGraphs

Rangers Vs. Twins: Sunday Lineups

Per MLB.com.

Texas Rangers vs. RHP Liam Hendriks

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Elvis Andrus, SS
3. Josh Hamilton, CF
4. Adrian Beltre, 3B
5. Michael Young, DH
6. Nelson Cruz, RF
7. David Murphy, LF
8. Mike Napoli, 1B
9. Yorvit Torrealba, C
   

Minnesota Twins vs. RHP Neftali Feliz

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Jamey Carroll, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, DH
5. Josh Willingham, LF
6. Chris Parmelee, 1B
7. Danny Valencia, 3B
8. Clete Thomas, RF
9. Alexi Casilla, 2B

Clete Thomas gets his first start as a Twin today. As a lefty, he gives Feliz the same issue Minnesota gave Darvish: a platoon disadvantage in two out of every three batters faced.

Mitch Moreland remains unavailable due to an abscessed tooth, but the lineup is otherwise optimal.

Rangers Vs. Twins Time, TV, Radio Info And More

The Texas Rangers will send converted closer Neftali Perez to the mound for his second career major league start while they go for a series sweep of the Twins in Minnesota.

In his debut as a starter, Perez pitched seven scoreless innings while allowing four hits in a 1-0 win over the Seattle Mariners. Minnesota will send Liam Hendriks to the mound who will be making his season debut.

Texas defeated the Twins 4-1 on Friday and 6-2 on Saturday. The Rangers haven't swept a series in Minnesota since the 1999 season.

Game date/time: Sunday, April 15, 1:10 p.m. CT

Location: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Pitching Matchups: Neftali Perez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Liam Hendriks (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

TV: Fox Sports Southwest

Radio: KSKY 660

Online Streaming: MLB.tv

For more on this game Rangers fans should check out Lone Star Ball and Twins fans should visit Twinkie Town. For more news and notes from around Major League Baseball head over to Baseball Nation.

AL West Standings: Rangers Keep Solid Lead Above Rest Of Division

The Texas Rangers are performing exactly how everyone predicted in the preseason as they continue their hot start to the 2012 MLB season with a 7-2 record including three wins in a row. Even as Yu Darvish struggled a bit today, the team's incredible line-up can carry them through nearly any frustrating pitching performance.

As for the rest of the division, there's no explaining how the Los Angeles Angels are performing so poorly. The offseason spending spree that netted them C.J. Wilson and Albert Pujols were supposed to put them in the hunt with the Rangers at the top for one of the best divisional one-two punches in baseball. Instead, the Angels are already 3.5 games behind early in the season.

Here are the latest AL West standings:

Read more about the Texas Rangers at Lone Star Ball.

Offense Overcomes Darvish Struggles Again

For every element of the Rangers that looked bad, there was another willing to step up for an easy win.

Rangers Vs. Twins: Rangers Blow Apart Late Innings For 6-2 Victory

Yu Darvish struggled and left a tied game with with the bases loaded in the fifth. From there on, the game was all Rangers.

Minnesota starter Nick Blackburn left with shoulder stiffness, and Texas added five more hits, a walk, and a reach on an error in the final three innings. The ROE came off the bat of Young, the goat of the first six innings with his play in the first six innings, and brought in a run, as did his single in the seventh. The other two RBIs came from Adrian Beltre, singling and doubling Hamilton in for runs in the seventh and ninth respectively.

All four runs after the sixth came with two outs.

Texas had 13 total hits, almost entirely from the Hamilton-to-Cruz portion of the lineup, save for three hits by Brandon Snyder in his first start. Hamilton, Beltre, and Cruz each had two doubles, with Beltre adding a walk and Hamilton adding a homerun. The only other runner to reach was Elvis Andrus on a walk.

The bullpen combined for another scoreless outing, though Joe Nathan once again made the last inning interesting, allowing runners to reach second and third with no outs before striking out the next two hitters and ending the game on a harmless ground ball. He took 26 pitches, but at least he got out with no damage.

The win moves the Rangers to 7-2, the best record in the American League, keeping them 3.5 in front of the Angels, and making them the first MLB team with a +20 run differential. It also gives them at least a victory in their third straight series.

Rangers Vs. Twins: Game Tied At Two Entering Seventh

Yu Darvish exited the game with two outs in the sixth inning, struggling mightily once again to find the strikezone. Though at times he seemed squeezed, he was nonetheless incapable of adapting, missing the strikezone on 42 of his 102 pitches. The sixth inning featured a wild pitch to set up the tying run, and later a walk and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases, ending his day with the bases loaded.

Robbie Ross entered to keep the game tied with a quick out, but Darvish left with the uninspiring line of nine hits, four walks, and two runs allowed (one earned) against four strikeouts. One out short of a difficult quality start.

Giving Darvish no help was the glove of Michael Young, with defensive miscues leading to both runs. In the second, Elvis Andrus misplayed a pop fly, putting runners on the corners with two outs. Darvish induced a ground ball, which Young played horribly, and then made a baffling throw to second base with plenty of time to get the hitter at first. Everyone was safe, and the Twins tied the game at one.

In the sixth with the Rangers back up 2-1, Young flailed helplessly at another ground ball, allowing the lead runner on. With Darvish's problems, he later scored, tying the game again.

The Rangers' runs have come on a Mike Napoli sac fly and a Josh Hamilton moon shot that nearly left the park. In his first start as a Ranger, Brandon Snyder has three hits.

Source: FanGraphs

Rangers Vs. Twins: Saturday Minnesota Lineup And Mitch Moreland Injury Report

Per MLB.com.

Twins Vs. RHP Yu Darvish

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Jamey Carroll, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, DH
5. Josh Willingham, LF
6. Ryan Doumit, RF
7. Danny Valencia, 3B
8. Chris Parmelee, 1B
9. Alexi Casilla, 2B

Mauer heads back to catcher, making his contract good value for one day.

With Darvish on the mound, righties Trevor Plouffe and Luke Hughes sit in favor of the lefty Parmelee and the switch-hitting Casilla. That gives Darvish the platoon disadvantage in all but three spots in the order.

In other news, we have an explanation for why Chris Snyder is starting over Mitch Moreland, despite the twins throwing out a right-handed pitcher, per Jeff Wilson:

Mitch Moreland not in today's lineup because of an abscessed front tooth. Brandon Snyder gets his start, at first base, for #Rangers.

— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilson_FWST) April 14, 2012

Rangers Vs. Twins: Saturday Texas Lineup

Per MLB.com.

Texas Rangers vs. RHP Nick Blackburn

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Elvis Andrus, SS
3. Josh Hamilton, CF
4. Adrian Beltre, DH
5. Michael Young, 3B
6. Nelson Cruz, RF
7. David Murphy, LF
8. Mike Napoli, C
9. Brandon Snyder, 1B

The Brandon Snyder era is officially underway, as he gets his first start, coming at first. It is somewhat interesting that the Rangers would rather start Snyder and keep Napoli -- once mocked by his own manager regarding his defense -- behind the plate, rather than moving Napoli to first and starting Yorvit Torrealba. It's also a little questionable that the Rangers are going with a platoon disadvantage with Snyder vs. Blackburn, instead of the lefty Mitch Moreland.

The Rangers' use of DH as a place to rotate players to keep them healthy was a smart move last season, and it looks as though they are keeping it up this year, giving Beltre a day of rest without ditching his bat. Unfortunately that means Young in the field, but it's probably a worthy trade off to keep players fresh.

Minnesota not yet posted.

Rangers Vs. Twins: Yu Darvish Set To Make Second Start

Yu Darvish will make his second Major League start on Saturday, as the Texas Rangers take on the Minnesota Twins in the second game of their three game series in Minnesota.

Darvish struggled in his debut against the Seattle Mariners, as the Japanese phenom needed 42 pitches to escape the first inning. All in all, Darvish recovered, pitching five and two thirds innings, while giving up five runs on eight hits and four walks. Darvish did strike out five in the contest.

Darvish will have a tough act to follow, as Matt Harrison quieted Minnesota's offense in Friday's 4-1 victory over the Twins. Harrison pitched eight innings, allowing just one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out four. Most impressively, though, Harrison induced a staggering 16 ground balls, which is always a recipe for success -- especially with Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler in the infield.

Texas' contest against Minnesota is one of FOX's Saturday game of the week. Televised coverage can be found locally on Fox, and in specific locations throughout the US on FOX.

For more on the Texas Rangers, be sure to head over to Lone Star Ball and join the discussion.

Texas Pitching And Defense Continue To Dominate

The Rangers play a complete game for a pretty one-sided victory, continuing their candidacy for best in baseball.

Rangers Vs. Twins: Rangers, Alexi Ogando Survives Late Threat

Alexi Ogando, rather than Joe Nathan, came in to close the game with a three-run lead. Just like Nathan's last outing, Ogando had some struggles, allowing the tying run to reach the plate before recording an out on a single and hit-by-pitch.

Fortunately, Ogando rallied, inducing a ground out, followed by a strikeout, and a pop-up. Even the final play of the game was too close for comfort, with Adrian Beltre and Elvis Andrus having trouble with the pop fly in the rain, but Andrus squeezed it to give Texas the 4-1 victory.

The fourth run came on Ian Kinsler's fourth homerun of the season. The Rangers put up nine hits -- three by a surging Andrus -- and no walks.

With efficient work and defensive help, Matt Harrison saw eight innings and 111 pitches. He allowed just one earned run, coming in the second inning, and two walks against four strikeouts.

Rangers Vs. Twins: Big Fourth Inning Gives Rangers Lead

After falling behind 1-0 in the second, the Rangers finally broke through against Anthony Swarzak in the fourth inning.

Eight hitters came to the plate in the inning, starting with Elvis Andrus's second of three hits in the game, followed up by Josh Hamilton reaching on a patented (and ever-questionable) slide in first base. Singles from Michael Young and Adrian Beltre tied the game and then broke it, and the bases loaded on an error by Luke Hughes.

Unfortunately, with the bases loaded and no outs, the next three hitters were all retired. One more run scored on a sacrifice fly from David Murphy, however, and a three-run inning is enough for a multi-run lead.

Outside of some problems in the second, Matt Harrison been solid, with three hits and one walk allowed against two strikeouts, and a ton of ground balls induced. Helped as well by some strong Rangers infield defense, he currently sits at 69 pitches -- 45 for strikes -- as the Twins come up in the bottom of the fifth.

Source: FanGraphs

Rangers Vs. Twins: Game Preview, TV Info And More

The Texas Rangers play the first of a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.