Small Hits Lead to Big Scores as Texas Rangers Blow Out Minnesota Twins

The Texas Rangers (36-29) used singles and doubles with smart base running to thoroughly defeat the Minnesota Twins, 9-3. Their first win at Target Field.The AL West Leading Rangers didn't send any balls over the fences but that doesn't mean the Rangers didn't score a lot of runs.

First, the pitching of C.J. Wilson (7-3) was good enough again to notch a win. Wildon went 7 innings giving up 3 runs on 8 hits in his 5th consecutive quality start for the Rangers. Wilson had this to say about his pitching and ball handling in the game that was always covered in a drizzle:

"It was like 'Die Hard.'Bruce Willis gets shot, he's limping around, but he still throws the bad guy down the elevator shaft. It's whatever you can do." -AP

The Rangers bats did most of their work early and took care of Brian Duensing of the Twins quickly. After a scoreless 1st the Rangers erupted in the 2nd scoring 7 runs. All the runs were scored 1 at a time. The runs came off a 5 single and 1 double  inning with an unearned run on a Twins error.

All Rangers got on base except Nelson Cruz who went 0-5 in the game. While he may not have hit the ball he still had a amazing throw. Cruz caught a fly ball in deep right field and no hopped it perfectly  to 3rd baseman Adrian Beltre to catch a Twin trying to advance on the fly ball.

Mr. Texas Ranger, Michael Young, who currently owns the Texas Rangers record for hits, singles, doubles, triples and a multitude of other records is currently 2 games away from setting the franchises record for games played. With how the schedule shaped out, he will break this record at the New York Yankees. General Manager Ron Washington is giving Young today off.

Young is coming off a slow June where he was 4  of 39 before last nights game. He had a .341 batting average in April and May but his slow June dropped it down to .304. He was 3 of 5 last night with 3 RBI's. Young had this to say about his batting:

"I don't waste time thinking about my previous at-bats. I know over the course of a long season if I keep grinding out my at-bats I'm going to be productive. I don't buy what some people say that the at-bats you've already had have anything to do with the at-bats you're going to have." AP

The Rangers will continue their 4 game series and road trip of 17 of 20 games on the road this afternoon at 3 in Minnesota.