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MLB: Minnesota 6, Texas 4
ARLINGTON, Texas, Delmon Young and Jim Thome hit home runs Thursday and the Minnesota Twins held off a Texas comeback bid to down the Rangers 6-4.
Minnesota salvaged the finale of a four-game series, building a 6-0 lead through six innings.
Young hit a three-run blast in the second off Cliff Lee (10-8), who in his previous start against Baltimore had given up a career-worst eight runs on 10 hits. The Orioles hit four homers off Lee in that game.
Michael Cuddyer added an RBI double in the third and Thome's solo homer came in the sixth off Alexi Ogando. Lee was removed after five innings, having allowed five runs on seven hits.
Francisco Liriano (12-7) struck out six and gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings to get the win.
After the Rangers scored twice in the seventh, Vladimir Guerrero added a two-run blast in the eighth off Matt Guerrier.
Matt Capps ended the hopes of a Texas comeback by using only eight pitches to retire the side in the ninth and pick up his 32nd save.
Minnesota maintained a 3 1/2-game lead over the second-place Chicago White Sox in the American League Central. Texas stayed 8 1/2 games in front of second-place Oakland in the AL West.
ARLINGTON, Texas, Delmon Young and Jim Thome hit home runs Thursday and the Minnesota Twins held off a Texas comeback bid to down the Rangers 6-4.
Minnesota salvaged the finale of a four-game series, building a 6-0 lead through six innings.
Young hit a three-run blast in the second off Cliff Lee (10-8), who in his previous start against Baltimore had given up a career-worst eight runs on 10 hits. The Orioles hit four homers off Lee in that game.
Michael Cuddyer added an RBI double in the third and Thome's solo homer came in the sixth off Alexi Ogando. Lee was removed after five innings, having allowed five runs on seven hits.
Francisco Liriano (12-7) struck out six and gave up two runs on five hits in seven innings to get the win.
After the Rangers scored twice in the seventh, Vladimir Guerrero added a two-run blast in the eighth off Matt Guerrier.
Matt Capps ended the hopes of a Texas comeback by using only eight pitches to retire the side in the ninth and pick up his 32nd save.
Minnesota maintained a 3 1/2-game lead over the second-place Chicago White Sox in the American League Central. Texas stayed 8 1/2 games in front of second-place Oakland in the AL West.