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Cuddyer, Twins pound Royals

Apr 27, 2008 - 5:17 AM ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Another day, another poor pitching performance for the Texas Rangers.

Michael Cuddyer hit a three-run home run and the Minnesota Twins pounded out 16 hits en route to a 12-6 victory over the Rangers on Saturday.

Mike Lamb and Delmon Young each drove in a pair of runs for the Twins, who snapped a three-game slide with the win. Minnesota's 12 runs equaled its total for the past four games.

"We really need a game where we scored a lot of runs and every one contributed," Young said. "We're really working to pick each other up and now everyone is starting to get in a rhythm."

Texas entered the contest with a team ERA of 5.49 - the worst mark in the American League. After Saturday's game, the Rangers have allowed a total of 84 runs in their last nine games, going 1-8 over that span.

They also committed three errors, leading to five unearned runs.

"Errors gave them opportunities and that got them back in the game," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "We wanted to play well and, for five innings, we did. But mistakes cost us in the sixth."

Sidney Ponson, who was making his first start in nearly a year after being recalled from Class AAA Oklahoma earlier in the day, started out strong. The hefty righthander had allowed two runs in the third inning before hurting himself with a throwing error in the sixth.

"I threw the ball away and the momentum changed," Ponson said. "I'm not happy about it. I was happy with the way I threw the ball but I can't be happy because we lost."

Ponson allowed a leadoff double to Brendan Harris to start the frame and then got Joe Mauer to ground back to the mound. Instead of going to first for the easy out, Ponson attempted to get Harris at third and threw the ball into left field, allowing Harris to score.

"Sidney was throwing the ball pretty good tonight," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He had a little something on the ball. We made him work though. The more pitches you get under a pitcher's belt the more tired they become."

Jason Kubel singled in Mauer to pull Minnesota to within 5-4 before Ponson was lifted. Mike Lamb's sacrifice fly capped the inning, tying the score at 5-5.

"This was nice," said Lamb, who entered the contest with a .182 average. "I was starting to starve myself so I could get my weight under my batting average. It had been about three weeks of 0-for-4 after 0-for-4.

"(Saturday) was a good night. I wish I knew why. I think it was just patience. I kept working and was lucky enough to have a manager who kept putting my name in the lineup every day."

The Twins took the lead with two runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Delmon Young and Lamb and broke it open with four more in the eighth. Cuddyer provided the big blow with a three-run blast off Scott Feldman.

"Anytime you get a lead on these guys (the Rangers) you've got to keep adding on," Lamb said. "(Cuddyer) had the home run, and I came up with a couple of hits along with the other guys tonight, hopefully we can continue that momentum."

Minnesota's 16 hits were a season high, with every starter claiming at least one except for shortstop Matt Tolbert.

The one downside for the Twins was starter Scott Baker, who was forced out of the game after 4 2/3 innings with a mild groin strain. The righthander was charged with all five runs and eight hits while striking out seven and walking one.

"I strained my groin a little on a pitch tonight," Baker said. "I just slipped on a breaking pitch and tweaked it a little. There was no point in trying to push it. It's a little stiff right now but it's day-to-day. I can't tell a lot right now.

"We played really well tonight. Our hitters scored some runs for us and out bullpen really shut them down."