SB Nation Dallas - Rangers Down Twins 4-3, Win Third Straighthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48887/dallas-fave.png2010-08-24T22:05:37-05:00http://dallas.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14126672010-08-24T22:05:37-05:002010-08-24T22:05:37-05:00Rangers 4, Twins 3: Official Recap
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<p>Arlington, TX (Sports Network) – Michael Young’s infield single scored Andres Blanco with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, lifting Texas over Minnesota, 4-3, in a battle of division leaders.</p>
<p>Josh Hamilton belted his 29th homer of the year for the AL West-leading Rangers, who won their third in a row.</p>
<p>One night after a near combined-no hitter, the Rangers used four pitchers to edge the AL Central-leading Twins. Colby Lewis allowed seven hits and three runs over 6 1/3 frames. Darren Oliver (1-1) threw 1 1/3 innings and escaped a jam in the top of the seventh to get the victory. Darren O’Day recorded the final out in the eighth inning and Neftali Feliz pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.</p>
<p>Michael Cuddyer stroked a two-run double in the first inning for Minnesota, which has lost back-to-back games for the first time since August 2-3 at Tampa Bay.</p>
<p>Carl Pavano (15-9) threw his sixth complete game of the season and 13th of his career after allowing eight hits and fanning five batters.</p>
<p>There was a bit of trepidation in the ninth inning. Delmon Young flied out to deep right field leading off. Danny Valencia then hit a ball to right-center field, which was tracked down by a leaping Julio Borbon near the fence. Pinch- hitter Jim Thome was hit by a pitch, but Matt Tolbert fanned in another pinch- hitting role to end the game.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2010/8/24/1649175/rangers-4-twins-3-official-recapJP Starkey2010-08-24T18:44:13-05:002010-08-24T18:44:13-05:00Alex Cora Called Up, Joaquin Arias Designated For Assignment
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<p>Per <a href="http://twitter.com/aandro/status/22041101854" target="new">Anthony Andro,</a> the Rangers have called up recent signing Alex Cora and have designated Joaquin Arias for assignment.</p>
<p>Cora hit .207/.265/.278 in 169 at bats earlier this season for the Mets and went five for 22 in six games with <span class="caps">AAA</span> Oklahoma City.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2010/8/24/1648881/alex-cora-called-up-joaquin-ariasJP Starkey2010-08-24T18:33:14-05:002010-08-24T18:33:14-05:00Follow Tonight's Rangers/Twins Game Live
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<p>To follow tonight’s game live with fellow Rangers fans, head over to <a href="http://www.lonestarball.com/2010/8/24/1648122/game-125-game-day-thread" target="new">Lone Star Ball and join the conversation</a>.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2010/8/24/1648865/follow-tonights-rangers-twins-gameJP Starkey2010-08-24T16:09:27-05:002010-08-24T16:09:27-05:00MRI On Kinsler Shows Improvement
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<p>Per <a href="http://twitter.com/aandro/status/22029626975" target="new">Anthony Andro</a>, an <span class="caps">MRI</span> on Ian Kinsler’s ailing groin has shown significant improvement and he will take batting practice and field ground balls prior to the Rangers game against the Twins tonight.</p>
<p>Kinsler hasn’t appeared in a game with the Rangers since July 27 when he went hitless in five at bats against the A’s.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2010/8/24/1648643/mri-on-kinsler-shows-improvementJP Starkey2010-08-24T16:07:02-05:002010-08-24T16:07:02-05:00Rangers Look To Make It Three In A Row
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<p>(Sports Network) - <span>Colby Lewis</span> will try to duplicate the terrific pitching performance the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Texas Rangers</a> received on Monday when they play the second test of their four-game series with the <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Twins</a> tonight at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.</p>
<p>Minnesota catcher <span>Joe Mauer</span> broke up a combined no-hitter with a one-out single off <span>Neftali Feliz</span> in the ninth inning, but Texas rolled to a 4-0 win in the opener.</p>
<p>"You definitely don't want to get no-hit," Mauer said. "It's nice to get a hit up there but we want runs."</p>
<p><span>Rich Harden</span>, <span>Matt Harrison</span>, Darren O'Day, and Feliz came within two outs of tossing the first official combined no-hitter in the majors since Houston used six pitchers to blank the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Yankees</a>, 8-0, on June 11, 2003.</p>
<p>Harden (5-4) went 6 2/3 frames in the start, fanning six batters and walking five. He tossed 111 pitches before being pulled with <span>Jim Thome</span> coming to the plate.</p>
<p>Harrison got Thome to line out to keep the combined no-no alive. O'Day came on in the eighth and almost gave up a hit to the first batter. <span>Delmon Young</span> hit a sharp grounder down the first-base line. The ball made a sharp turn after it hit the dirt. <span>Mitch Moreland</span> stopped the ball with his glove and tossed the ball to O'Day, who was covering first. The next two batters went down on strikes.</p>
<p>Feliz took to the mound in the ninth with history on the line. The anticipation built after <span>Denard Span</span> flied out. <span>Orlando Hudson</span> then walked to bring Mauer to the plate. Mauer laced an 0-2 pitch back up the middle to halt what would've been the sixth no-hitter in Rangers history. Following a wild pitch, Feliz retired the next two batters to end the game.</p>
<p>It would've been the first no-hitter for the Rangers since <span>Kenny Rogers</span> tossed a perfect game on July 28, 1994.</p>
<p>There has been five no-hitters in the majors this season.</p>
<p>Twins starter <span>Nick Blackburn</span> (7-8) lasted seven innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. He also struck out five and walked no batters as the Twins saw their lead in the AL Central trimmed to 4 1/2 games over the <a href="https://www.southsidesox.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">White Sox</a>.</p>
<p>Despite the loss, Minnesota has still won eight of 11 and 21 of 28.</p>
<p>Lewis is 0-5 over his last six starts and was charged with the loss on Thursday in Baltimore, as the <a href="https://www.camdenchat.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Orioles</a> roughed him up for four runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings. He is 9-10 on the year to go along with a 3.37 ERA.</p>
<p>"Sometimes you get pitchers who go out there and they don't have the luxury of getting runs, and just lately, Colby has been that guy," said Texas manager Ron Washington. "We just haven't been able to put runs on the board for him. He battles and we battle, and the time is going to come when we're going to pick him up."</p>
<p>In six games (two starts) against the Twins Lewis is 0-2 with a 4.40 ERA.</p>
<p>Minnesota, meanwhile, will counter with righty <span>Carl Pavano</span>, who at 15-8 is a big reason why the Twins sit atop their division. Pavano, though, was charged with the loss on Thursday against Chicago, as he was pounded for 15 hits and seven runs in six innings to raise his ERA to 3.52.</p>
<p>Pavano beat the Rangers the last time he faced them and is 1-2 in four starts against them with a 9.00 ERA.</p>
<p>Minnesota swept the Rangers in a three-game set at Target Field earlier in the year and has won seven of the last 10 matchups in the series.</p>
https://dallas.sbnation.com/2010/8/24/2319861/rangers-look-to-make-it-three-in-a-rowJP Starkey