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Struggling Twins could debut Buxton vs. Rangers

Jun 14, 2015 - 1:47 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - After being swept by a division rival earlier in the week, the Minnesota Twins will do everything they can to avoid yet another sweep as they take on the Texas Rangers in the final contest of a three-game series at Globe Life Park Sunday.

Perhaps the promotion of a top prospect will help.

The Twins purchased the contract of Byron Buxton after the outfielder hit .283 with six homers and 37 RBI in 59 games at Double-A. He added 20 steals and should be in the lineup this afternoon.

The 21-year-old was the second overall pick of the 2012 draft and is ranked as baseball's No. 1 prospect by MLB.com

"We're hoping he can bring something a little bit special here," Twins manager Paul Molitor said on his team's website. "But we don't want to put too much pressure on him. Everyone thinks he's going to be the next face of the franchise and all those things. And that's a lot on a young guy who is just trying to get established."

Phil Hughes gets the starting nod for the visitors as he attempts to improve on a sub-par record. Nick Martinez will head to the hill for Texas as he tries to keep a hot streak alive.

Hughes enters the contest sporting a 4-6 mark on the season with a 4.81 earned run average. He's displayed his accuracy, however, in his 48 strikeouts compared with just eight walks in 76 2/3 innings pitched.

But his last few outings haven't gone so well. The right-hander has dropped his last two starts, including Monday's 3-1 defeat at the hands of Kansas City. Hughes went deep into the contest, tossing 7 2/3 innings of seven-hit ball, but he gave up all three runs to the Royals in the loss.

In eight career games and seven starts against Texas, Hughes is 2-3 with a 2.72 ERA and a .221 batting average against.

The youngster Martinez, who will turn 25 later this summer, is hoping to build on a 5-2 record and an impressive 2.65 ERA to start the 2015 campaign.

Martinez got the start Tuesday against Oakland in search of ending a personal two-game losing streak. He did just that by throwing six innings of one-hit, scoreless ball, adding three strikeouts and three walks to his resume.

At home this season, Martinez has made six starts and owns a 2-2 mark at Globe Life Park with a 3.89 ERA in the friendly confines.

The Rangers used a six-run fourth inning to grab a commanding lead over the Twins on Saturday, and went into the ninth holding an 11-3 advantage. The Twins managed to cut the deficit to 11-7, but time ran out on the visitors, who fell for the fifth straight time.

Rain delayed Saturday's game in the seventh inning for roughly an hour, but the teams were able to finish up without an issue.

Colby Lewis pitched a strong game for the Rangers, picking up the win in the process. He went seven innings and allowed three runs on four hits.

Mike Pelfrey was lit up as the starter for the Twins. He lasted only 3 2/3 innings and allowed eight runs on 11 hits, and lost his third game of the season.

"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."

Leonys Martin got the scoring started in the second inning for Texas with an RBI single, but Minnesota went ahead 3-1 in the top of the third. Shin-Soo Choo and Mitch Moreland combined to knot the score in the home half of that inning, however.

The Rangers combined for 10 runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Moreland finished the game with four RBI and a 2-for-5 mark at the plate. Choo chipped in with three RBI and a 3-for-4 day hitting.

Eddie Rosario led his Twins with a pair of runs driven in. Six different players registered an RBI for Minnesota, which was aided by three scoring doubles in the top of the ninth.

In the first head-to-head series between the sides this season, Texas will attempt to go for the sweep.