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Rangers pound Pelfrey, Twins in 11-7 win

Jun 14, 2015 - 2:35 AM Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Mitch Moreland and Joey Gallo hit back-to- back home runs to highlight a six-run fourth inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Minnesota Twins 11-7 on Saturday.

Shin-Soo Choo drove in three runs and Delino DeShields scored three times for Texas, which improved to a major league-best 17-6 since May 20.

The Rangers had 15 hits to back seven strong innings from Colby Lewis (6-3), who beat the Twins for the first time in eight career starts against them. Lewis allowed three runs, four hits and a walk.

"Having the starters go out there and battle every night and keep us in every ball game has been huge," said Moreland. "They set the pace for us."

Mike Pelfrey (5-3) scattered eight runs on 11 hits over just 3 2/3 innings for Minnesota. Pelfrey entered the game with an 0.96 ERA over his last four games.

"I just didn't feel very good today," said Pelfrey. "I went from having the best stuff I had all year last week against Milwaukee to today, where nothing was working."

Minnesota looked to be in control after a three-run third inning, but the Rangers answered in the bottom half and ran away with it from there.

It was 1-0 before Eddie Rosario gave the Twins the lead with a two-run double, and Joe Mauer added to it by plating Rosario with his two-bagger to the wall in center.

In the home third, Choo and Moreland drove in a run apiece to knot the game at 3-3. Then in the fourth, Texas chased Pelfrey with five more runs against Minnesota's starter and another off J.R. Graham.

DeShields broke the draw with an RBI double to left-center, Hanser Alberto scored on Prince Fielder's groundout and Moreland ended Pelfrey's afternoon with a three-run homer to right.

Gallo's solo homer on the third pitch he saw from Graham made it 9-3.

Graham remained in the game for the fifth and gave up two more runs, yielding a double to Robinson Chirinos and a walk to DeShields before Choo's double to center.

The game was delayed for an hour and 19 minutes after that, and Minnesota made the final score more respectable with four runs in the top of the ninth against Anthony Bass, but Jon Edwards came on and got Rosario to ground out to first to end the game.

Game Notes

The Twins recalled their No. 1 prospect, outfielder Byron Buxton, who will report from Double-A Chattanooga and be in the lineup on Sunday ... Minnesota outfielder Torii Hunter dropped his appeal and began serving a two-game suspension on Saturday ... The Twins fell to 3-9 this month.