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Rangers-Twins Preview

Aug 27, 2009 - 11:12 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Texas (70-55) at Minnesota (63-64), 8:10 p.m. EDT

With five victories in six games, the Minnesota Twins are feeling much better about their prospects in the AL Central race.

After winning a road series against the owners of baseball's best record, the Texas Rangers are feeling quite enthused about their playoff chances as well.

The Rangers look for their fourth victory in five contests Friday night when they begin a three-game series at the Metrodome, where the Twins continue a homestand that may prove critical to their postseason hopes.

Texas (71-55) lost the first two games of its nine-game trip at Tampa Bay last week, but won the finale against a Rays team right behind it in the wild card race.

The Rangers headed to an even more intimidating environment next, but playing at Yankee Stadium didn't seem to bother them.

After splitting the first two games, Texas got two homers and four RBIs from Ian Kinsler in a 7-2 win Thursday, making the Rangers the first visiting team to win a series in the Bronx since mid-June.

"This sends a statement that we can play with anyone out there," said reliever Jason Grilli, who pitched 2 1-3 hitless innings to earn the win after starter Dustin Nippert was pulled in the fourth.

The Rangers are chasing Boston for the wild card, but have even more reason for optimism due to the resurgence of Josh Hamilton. The two-time All-Star's average fell to .220 this month, but he batted .429 with 10 RBIs over the past 15 games.

Hamilton is a .389 career hitter versus Minnesota (63-64), and had five hits as the Rangers split four games with the Twins in Arlington from Aug. 17-20.

Minnesota won its next five games after leaving Texas, giving hope to a team that lost 12 of 16 from July 31-Aug. 17 and looked to have little chance in the Central.

The Twins have another hot hitter in outfielder Denard Span, who batted .457 with three triples and eight RBIs in his last nine games.

Minnesota dropped only its second game in that stretch Wednesday, 5-1 to Baltimore, keeping it 4 1/2 games behind division-leading Detroit. However, that is as close as the Twins have been since Aug. 12, and they have 12 games left against the Tigers and Chicago, which comes in after Texas and is battling Minnesota for second place.

"It's that time of the year where you kind of want to see what the other teams that are ahead of you are doing," pitcher Scott Baker told the Twins' official Web site. "If anybody tells you they're not watching, they're probably not telling the truth."

Minnesota will face rookie Tommy Hunter (6-2, 2.85 ERA) for the second time in 12 days. Hunter allowed four runs in 5 2-3 innings to beat the Twins 8-5 on Aug. 17.

Minnesota lost slugger Justin Morneau in that contest for six games due to an inner ear infection. He returned Monday against Baltimore.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire will give the ball to Brian Duensing (1-1, 4.91), who also pitched at Texas on Aug. 17, tossing a scoreless inning of relief.

The rookie left-hander made his first start since late July on Saturday at Kansas City, allowing two runs in five innings to earn his first major league win, 8-7.

Duensing's lone loss came when he gave up a run in the 12th inning of a 5-3 defeat to the Rangers on July 19. Texas leads the season series 4-3.