Baker, Twins Kick Some Serious Ranger Ass

A game in which I wasn’t sure of the outcome ended badly for the Rangers losing getting only one run on Twins’ starting RHP Scott Baker, who’s offense backed him up with eight runs ruining the chance of the Rangers getting consecutive wins at Target Field in this four-game series.

While I wasn’t sure how the game would end, I didn’t expect Colby Lewis to pitch so terribly. I think that was his worse yet and personally, I think he should have been sent to the dugout prior to the conclusion of the first inning…but that’s just me!

Before Dave Bush came in and reliever Lewis from his starting duties, Lewis had allowed five runs in the first inning. He went on to allow another run in the second inning before being taken out. He allowed a total of six runs on seven hits in 1.1 innings. In Lewis’ past two starts, he has allowed 15 total runs over 4.2 innings.

The Twins got in eight runs off 15 hits. It was Alexi Casilla and Delmon Young who performed so well for the Twins with each having three hits. Casilla has two scored runs and Young batted in two runs.

Ian Kinsler returned from paternity leave, but wasn’t able to improve his batting average on the road because Baker held him as well as the rest of the offense to just five hits. The first hit didn’t even come until the fifth inning when Adrian Beltre hit a double into the right field that bounced off the wall. The next hit wasn’t until the eighth inning when Mike Napoli hit a single with two outs on the board. David Murphy then gets a single in scoring Napoli.

More Postgame Notes

Dave Bush is now day-to-day after leaving today’s game with a bruised left hamstring. The injury came in the sixth inning when a comebacker struck him in the leg from Ben Revere’s hit. However, he did make it one more inning before being pulled.

Josh Hamilton definitely struggled against the right-hander Minnesota starter striking out three times.

Prior to coming on the road, the Rangers had won five of their last six games away from Arlington but have now given up two of their previous three on this 20-game road trip.