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Twins-Rangers Preview

Aug 19, 2009 - 6:22 AM By PAUL DIGIACOMO STATS Senior Editor

Minnesota (57-62) at Texas (67-51), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Texas Rangers haven't made the playoffs in 10 years. Bringing back one of the best players from that 1999 team may help them reach the postseason.

A day after returning to the place he began his career, Ivan Rodriguez is expected to start for the Rangers on Wednesday night when they host the Minnesota Twins.

The 14-time All-Star catcher was acquired in a trade Tuesday with Houston to back up Taylor Teagarden. Manager Ron Washington, though, told the Rangers' official Web site he expects to start Rodriguez in this game.

Rodriguez began his career with the Rangers at age 19 in 1991 and won 10 of his 13 Gold Gloves with them. He helped lead the franchise to its only three playoff appearances in 1996, 1998 and 1999, when he won the AL MVP award.

"You always want to come back where you started," said Rodriguez, who left the Rangers when they refused to offer salary arbitration after the 2002 season. "It has been a long time. This would be a great place to finish my career. I'm very excited to be back."

Rodriguez's playoff experience also includes winning the World Series with Florida in 2003 and playing in the 2006 World Series with Detroit. That veteran presence could help a Rangers team that's looking to bounce back from another bad loss.

The Rangers (67-51) are tied with Boston for the AL wild card but could be sitting alone atop those standings. They have lost twice in their last seven games, with both defeats coming at home after they had taken a lead.

Texas was ahead 4-2 heading into the ninth inning Friday night before the Red Sox scored six times for an 8-4 victory. In the second game of this four-game series Tuesday, Minnesota rallied from a 5-0 deficit to win 9-6.

Joe Mauer homered twice and Delmon Young hit a tiebreaking two-run shot in the seventh inning as Minnesota ended a three-game losing streak and stopped Texas' three-game run.

"To come back like we did, hopefully we can gain some momentum from it," said Mauer, who has 25 homers after hitting no more than 13 in his first four full seasons. "The guys kept at it and we put up enough runs to win."

Kevin Millwood (9-7, 3.31 ERA), scheduled to take the mound for the Rangers in this game, was in line to earn the win Friday after allowing one run over 5 2-3 innings. The right-hander has one victory in his last four starts despite posting a 2.29 ERA.

Millwood has yet to beat Minnesota in his career, going 0-6 with a 6.00 ERA in 10 starts. The Twins (57-62) and Rangers are the only AL clubs he has never defeated.

Michael Cuddyer, Nick Punto, Jason Kubel, Justin Morneau and Mauer are a combined 34 for 86 (.395) against Millwood. Morneau has three homers in 16 at-bats, but may not face Millwood after sitting out Tuesday with an inner ear infection. Kubel left Tuesday's game after bruising his left knee.

Scott Baker (10-7, 4.54), coming off one of the best performances of his career, will be trying to win five straight decisions for the first time when he starts for the Twins.

The right-hander needed 94 pitches to throw a two-hitter, facing three batters above the minimum, in defeating Cleveland 11-0 on Friday. Baker is 4-0 with a 2.96 ERA over his last seven outings.

Baker pitched at Texas on July 18, allowing one run and six hits while striking out eight over eight innings of a 4-1 win - his first in four starts versus the Rangers.

Rodriguez is batting .190 (4 for 21) in his career against Baker.