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Twins attempt to slow down high-powered Rangers offense

Jul 26, 2011 - 2:38 PM (Sports Network) - To say the Rangers responded after being shut out for the fifth time this season would be an understatement.

One night after setting major league season highs for runs and hits in a game, Texas will try to keep its hot bats going in the second of a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins in Arlington.

The Rangers were blanked by the Blue Jays on Sunday for their third loss in five contests following a 12-game win streak. It marked the second time it was held without a run in that span and Texas made sure it didn't happen again in Monday's opener, logging 27 hits in a 20-6 pounding of Minnesota.

The Rangers scored three runs in each of the first three innings and led 18-1 by the end of the fifth inning. It got so bad for the Twins that Michael Cuddyer came in from the field to pitch the eighth inning. He and Phil Dumatrait were the only two Minnesota hurlers to record scoreless outings, with Cuddyer yielding two hits and a walk while throwing nine of his 16 pitches for strikes.

"I've been lobbying for years," said Cuddyer, who became the first position player to pitch for the Twins since John Moses in 1990. "Obviously the circumstances weren't fun, but it was fun being out there."

Seven of Texas' nine starters finished with at least three hits, with Ian Kinsler leading the way with four. He also homered, drove in four runs and scored twice, while Josh Hamilton, Michael Young and Endy Chavez all finished with three RBI. Young homered and both Nelson Cruz and Mike Napoli logged four hits.

"We came out with a lot of energy but you never expect to have a game go this way," Young said. "When you have a game like this you need to remind yourself what it's like to be on the other end."

The barrage also came with Adrian Beltre out of the lineup because of a strained left hamstring and pushed the Rangers' edge over the Angels for first place in the American League West to four games.

Nick Blackburn was shelled in 2 2/3 innings, giving up nine runs -- six earned -- on 11 hits for the Twins, who got a homer from Jason Kubel and lost for the fourth time in five contests to open a 10-game road trip versus the AL West.

Texas beat Minnesota for only the fifth time in 15 meetings since the start of last season and that includes dropping three of four at Minnesota from June 9-12. C.J. Wilson picked up the Rangers' lone victory in that set and he will hope for some support tonight after epitomizing a tough-luck loss last time out.

Matched up against Jered Weaver and the Angels, Wilson gave up just one unearned run on two hits and a walk, but still suffered a complete-game 1-0 loss. Wilson fell to 10-4 in 21 starts this season despite lowering his earned run average to 2.94 following his first setback since May 20.

"Two good pitchers battled today," said Rangers manager Ron Washington. "C.J. pitched well enough to win the ballgame, but we just couldn't put any runs up."

The 30-year-old bested the Twins on June 10, yielding three runs on seven innings. In his career, Wilson is 2-3 with three saves and a 4.18 ERA in 21 games against the club, including four starts.

Carl Pavano takes the hill for the Twins after struggling in his last outing versus the Tigers.

The 35-year-old right-hander was tagged for five runs on nine hits over six innings for his second loss in three decisions. Pavano also failed to go at least seven innings for just the second time in 12 starts, falling to 6-7 with a 4.24 ERA in 20 outings this year.

Pavano will make his seventh career start versus the Rangers and is 2-3 against them with a 6.62 ERA.