Final
Oswalt gets another spot start against Twins
Aug 23, 2012 - 2:56 PMVideo
Oswalt, though, makes his second straight spot start on Thursday evening in the opener of a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins.
After spending last season with the Philadelphia Phillies, Oswalt didn't sign with the Rangers until late May and spent time in the minors getting game ready before making his first start with the big-league club on June 22.
He won that outing with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, but was 4-2 with a 5.53 earned run average through seven starts before getting sent to the bullpen following the acquisition of Ryan Dempster prior the non-waiver trade deadline.
The right-handed Oswalt made three relief outings before filling in for Dempster, who was away from the team for personal reasons, on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Oswalt allowed a run on two hits and a pair of walks in 4 2/3 innings of work, getting a no-decision in his first start since July 30 and first appearance since Aug. 8.
"It went better than I thought it would. First couple of innings I felt really good and the ball kind of came up a little bit later," said Oswalt, who threw just 62 pitches.
The 34-year-old gets the call again for this opener with Yu Darvish scratched because of a tight right quad. Oswalt, who is 1-1 in four lifetime outings versus the Twins with a 4.23 ERA, doesn't see himself as a fixture in the rotation however.
"I don't think I'm in the rotation. I think I'm just making another start," Oswalt said on Texas' website. "I'm just doing what I'm told. If they tell me I need to start Thursday, that's what I'll do. They haven't explained what kind of role I'm in."
Oswalt could be in line for any easy day if the Rangers' offense produces like it did on Wednesday in a 12-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
Adrian Beltre hit three home runs, including two in a nine-run fourth inning, and Mitch Moreland added a grand slam as the duo drove in 10 of Texas' runs.
"Finally, I got a good game offensively. I've been struggling a couple of weeks, driving the ball. I hit the ball hard in the air," said Beltre, who became the 57th player in major league history and second this season to homer twice in one inning.
Derek Holland allowed three runs on five hits and struck out five over seven innings to snap a four-start winless stretch.
Texas won for the fifth time in seven games and is five games up on the Oakland Athletics for first place in the AL West.
Scott Diamond will try contain the Rangers this evening and has logged back- to-back no-decisions for the Twins while giving up five runs over 13 2/3 innings in that time.
The 26-year-old southpaw yielded two runs on nine hits over 6 2/3 frames at the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, leaving him 10-5 with a 2.95 ERA in 19 starts this year.
Diamond faces the Rangers for the first time and hopes the Twins can avoid a 12th loss in 14 games following Wednesday's 5-1 setback to the A's.
Liam Hendriks remained winless after 13 major league starts. Oakland tagged the right-handed Aussie for four runs on six hits and three walks in five innings.
"He's gotta be a little bit better than that with the strike zone and work ahead a little better," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's behind a lot of hitters. But, like I said, he competed in some big situations and got out of some jams he created for himself. There's a step in the right direction."
The Rangers have won five of six against the Twins this season, including two of three in Texas.
- MINNESOTA: 6
TEXAS: 10
Final
Aug 23 11:49 PM - Denard Span reach first on Elvis Andrus's throwing error scored Trevor Plouffe and Jamey Carroll with two outs. On the play, Pedro Florimon Jr. advances to third. Runners on second and third and Ben Revere due up.
Twins 6, Rangers 10 Top 9, 2 OutsAug 23 11:42 PM - Adrian Beltre grounded out third to first to end the inning.
Twins 4, Rangers 10 End 8Aug 23 11:25 PM - Elvis Andrus single to third scored David Murphy with two outs. On the play, Ian Kinsler advances to second and Geovany Soto advances to third. Bases loaded and Josh Hamilton due up.
Twins 4, Rangers 8 Bot 8, 2 OutsAug 23 11:18 PM - Ian Kinsler walk Mitch Moreland scored on the play with two outs. Bases loaded and Elvis Andrus due up.
Twins 4, Rangers 7 Bot 8, 2 OutsAug 23 11:15 PM - Geovany Soto reached first on Pedro Florimon Jr.'s fielding error scored Nelson Cruz with one out. On the play, David Murphy advances to second and Mitch Moreland advances to third. Bases loaded and Mike Olt due up.
Twins 4, Rangers 6 Bot 8, 1 OutAug 23 11:12 PM - Mitch Moreland double to center scored Adrian Beltre with one out. On the play, Nelson Cruz advances to third. Runners on second and third and David Murphy due up.
Twins 4, Rangers 5 Bot 8, 1 OutAug 23 11:07 PM - Denard Span single to right scored Trevor Plouffe with two outs. Runner on first and Ben Revere due up.
Twins 4, Rangers 4 Top 6, 2 OutsAug 23 10:03 PM - Pedro Florimon Jr. ground out second to first scored Matt Carson with two outs. On the play, Trevor Plouffe advances to third. Runner on third and Denard Span due up.
Twins 3, Rangers 4 Top 6, 2 OutsAug 23 10:02 PM - Adrian Beltre two-out, solo Home Run (23) to left center. Nelson Cruz due up.
Twins 2, Rangers 4 Bot 5, 2 OutsAug 23 9:52 PM - Josh Hamilton sacrifice fly out to center scored Ian Kinsler with two outs. None on and Adrian Beltre due up.
Twins 2, Rangers 3 Bot 5, 2 OutsAug 23 9:50 PM - Ben Revere ground into a fielder's choice scored Pedro Florimon Jr with one out. Runner on second and Joe Mauer due up.
Twins 2, Rangers 2 Top 3, 1 OutAug 23 8:55 PM - Josh Hamilton double to left center scored Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus with none out. Runner on second and Adrian Beltre due up.
Twins 1, Rangers 2 Bot 1, 0 OutsAug 23 8:23 PM - Joe Mauer single to left scored Ben Revere with one out. Runner on first and Ryan Doumit due up.
Twins 1, Rangers 0 Top 1, 1 OutAug 23 8:13 PM - MINNESOTA: 0
TEXAS: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Aug 23 8:08 PM
Related News
- Tuesday Morning Texas Rangers Update Dec 26
- Greatest Minnesota Twins: The Twinkie Town Definitive List (Round 9) Dec 26
- Christmas Morning Texas Rangers Update Dec 25
- Garver to the M’s, per reports Dec 24
- The season of perpetual hope (Pt. 3 of 3): Jim Eisenreich Dec 24
- Christmas Eve Rangers things Dec 24
- Saturday morning Rangers things Dec 23
- Rival Roundup, Vol. 47: Home for the Holidays Dec 23
- LSB Offseason Community Prospect Rankings — #15 Dec 22
- Friday morning Rangers stuff Dec 22
- Yamamoto to Dodgers, per reports Dec 21
- MLB adopts new rules for 2024 Dec 21