GAME THREAD: See How Rangers Slipped by Twins

The Texas Rangers continue their six-game road trip on Saturday with the second game of four with the Minnesota Twins.

Friday’s opener turned into a low-scoring affair, as the Twins won 2-1 on the strength of two solo home runs in the first inning.

The Rangers are still adjusting from a tumultuous homestand that ended on Thursday and saw the organization reshape its future.

The Rangers fired team president Jon Daniels on Wednesday and installed general manager Chris Young as the overseer of all baseball operations. It’s a seismic shift for an organization that just two days before fired manager Chris Woodward and promoted third-base coach Tony Beasley to interim manager. Beasley is 2-3 in his first stint as a Major League manager.

The team’s principal owner, Ray Davis, put it simply when talking about Daniels’ dismissal — “we’re not very good.” Young is with the team in Minnesota and Davis said he’ll continue communicating with the team about the changes in the organization while on the trip.

Scroll down to follow along with tonight’s game.

Texas Rangers (53-66) at Minnesota Twins (62-55)

August 20, 2022, Target Field, Minneapolis, Minn., 6:10 p.m. (CDT)

Starting Pitchers

TEX: RHP Glenn Otto (5-8, 4.96)

Vs.

MIN: RHP Chris Archer (2-6, 4.15)

Rangers Pre-Game Transactions:

None

Rangers Injury List:

OF Kole Calhoun (10-day, right heel irritation), placed on Aug. 4 (retroactive to Aug. 3). He is eligible to return. Calhoun is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock.

P Jon Gray (15-day, left oblique strain), placed on Aug. 2. He is eligible to return, but his recovered was expected to take 4-6 weeks.

P Dennis Santana (15-day, left ankle sprain), placed on Aug. 4 (retroactive to Aug. 3). He is eligible to return. Santana is on an injury rehab assignment.

P Spencer Howard (15-day, right shoulder impingement), placed on Aug. 10 (retroactive to Aug. 8), eligible to be activated on Aug. 23.

P Joe Barlow (15-day, right index finger blister), placed on Aug. 19 (retroactive to Aug. 18). Eligible to be activated on Sept. 2. Note: This is the second time Barlow has been on the injured list due to a blister in the past two months.

OF Eli White (60-day, right wrist fracture), placed on June 13. He has missed 57 games but he is expected to return at some point this season.

C Mitch Garver (60-day, right forearm flexor tendon repair surgery), placed on July 11. He is not expected to return this season.

Follow the Game

Rangers – Bally Sports Southwest

Twins - Bally Sports North

Radio/Internet

Rangers - KRLD 1080, KFLC 1270

Twins – Treasure Island Baseball Network - 830 WCCO-AM, KMNB 102.9 FM

Texas Rangers Starting Lineup

1. 2B Marcus Semien

2. SS Corey Seager

3. 1B Nathaniel Lowe

4. RF Adolis García

5. DH Brad Miller

6. CF Leody Taveras

7. 3B Ezequiel Duran

8. C Meibrys Viloria

9. LF Bubba Thompson

Minnesota Twins Starting Lineup

1. 1B Luis Arraez

2. SS Carlos Correa

3. DH Byron Buxton

4. 2B Jorge Polanco

5. RF Max Kepler

6. DH Jose Miranda

7. CF Nick Gordon

8. LF Jake Cave

9. C Gary Sánchez

Top of First

Chris Archer (MIN) pitching

Texas went with the same top four hitters in the order that it has for the past few games, which means second baseman Marcus Semien led off against Archer. Semien led off with line shot off a 3-1 pitch from Archer, which nearly went over the fence for a home run. Instead, it hit the top of the fence, seemed to go dead and then popped back into the field of play for a double. It was Semien’s 19th double of the season. Seager then grounded out to Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, who was playing on the second-base side in the shift. He had to dive to make the play and threw out Seager, but Semien easily advanced to third. Nathaniel Lowe grounded out on a 2-2 pitch to Twins first baseman Luis Arraez. He played the sharp grounder well and made the force at first himself while holding Semien at third. Adolis García extended his hit streak on a long double to right field over the head of the Twins’ Max Kepler. That scored Semien to give the Rangers an early lead and to push García’s hit streak to 17 games. That is now the third-longest in Rangers history. Designated hitter Brad Miller flew out to end the inning. Rangers 1, Twins 0.

Bottom of First

Glenn Otto (TEX) pitching

Otto started his evening with a one-run lead, thanks to García’s RBI double. Arraez, who had a solo home run on Friday night, led off for the Twins. Otto struck him out, which led to Correa stepping in. After an 0-for-4 game on Friday, he started Saturday’s game with a fly out to Rangers center fielder Leody Taveras. Twins designated hitter Byron Buxton walked on a four-pitch at-bat. Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco, who popped out to Rangers third baseman Ezequiel Duran in foul territory. Rangers 1, Twins 0.

Top of Second

Taveras led off the inning by striking out swinging on five pitches. That was Archer’s first strikeout of the game. Duran followed by flying out to Twins center fielder Nick Gordon for the second out. Catcher Meibrys Viloria, making the start for Jonah Heim, struck out swinging on a full count. Rangers 1, Twins 0

Bottom of Second

Kepler led off for the Twins. He started the second the same way Polanco ended the first — with a pop-out to Duran in foul territory down the third-base line. Designated hitter Jose Miranda, who hit a solo home run on Friday, nearly did it again, but his long fly ball to left field only required Rangers left fielder Bubba Thompson to make a small jump up to catch the ball at the warning track. Gordon extended the inning with a single to Taveras in center. Cave then slammed a shot right to Taveras in center, who was briefly turned around before he managed to catch the ball on the run back toward the track for the final out of the inning. Rangers 1, Twins 0.

Top of Third

Thompson led off by trying to bunt again, something he’s been consistently doing since he was called up to the Rangers. He later hit a ground out to Polanco at second base for the first out. Semien (1-for-1, run) returned to the plate and struck out swinging on a 3-2 pitch from Archer. It was Archer’s third strikeout of the game. Seager (0-for-1) lined out to Correa on the second pitch to end the inning. Rangers 1, Twins 0.

Bottom of Third

Twins catcher Gary Sánchez led off by grounding out to Semien, who was playing on the shortstop side of the diamond in the shift. That brought up Arraez (0-for-1). After striking out the first trip, he grounded out softly to Lowe at first base, who easily made the play on his own. Correa (0-for-1) singled to left field, a sharp line drive that was just the second hit Otto allowed for the game. Buxton (0-for-0, walk) hit a hard shot to left field and Thompson, like Tavears in the second, was briefly turned around before recovering to make the catch just in front of the warning track. Rangers 1, Twins 0.

Top of Fourth

Lowe (0-for-1) led off with a bloop single to center field to put García (1-for-1, double, RBI) in a position to drive in another run. But, he ended up grounding into what nearly became a double play, which started with Miranda at third base. His throw to Polanco at second forced out Lowe, but Polanco could turn the throw quickly enough to get García. Miller (0-for-1) drew a walk, the first of the game issued by Archer, which moved García to second. Taveras (0-for-1) swung and missed at a full-count offering for the second out. That brought up Duran (0-for-1), who ended the frame with a groundout to Correa. Rangers 1, Twins 0.

Bottom of Fourth

Polanco (0-for-1) led off the inning with a relatively easy groundout to Semien, who was shaded close to first base and was in perfect position for the play. From there, Kepler (0-for-1) worked Otto to a full count before hitting a one-hop grounder to Duran, who was playing on the second base side of the infield in the shift, for the second out. Miranda (0-for-1) ended the inning with a groundout to Otto, a one-hopper that he underhanded to Lowe for the force at first. Rangers 1, Twins 0.

Top of Fifth

Viloria (0-for-1) led off by working Archer to a full count before he struck out swinging for the second time in the game. Thompson (0-for-1) hit a chopper to Miranda at third base for the second out. Semien (1-for-2) hit a grounder to Correa for what should have been a routine ground ball out, but Correa’s throw was hit to Arraez at first base, which pulled Arraez off the bag and allowed Semien to beat out the throw. Correa was charged with an error. Seager then hit a fly ball to Gordon in center field for the final out. Rangers 1, Twins 0.

Bottom of Fifth

Gordon led off by grounding out to Semien at second. But then Otto got into a bit of trouble. Cave hit a ball to Seager at shortstop, who committed a throwing error that allowed Cave to reach base. Then Sanchez walked to put two runners on for Arraez. He hit a flare to center field, one that got above the outstretched hand of Seager for an RBI single that scored Cave and moved Sanchez to second base. That tied the game for Correa, who had runners at first and second. Correa hit a weak grounder back to Otto, who tossed the ball to first for the second out. But both runners advanced 90 feet. Buxton, with a chance to give the Twins the lead for the first time in the game, hit a screaming liner to left where Thompson had to range to his right and lean out to make the catch for the third out. The Rangers managed to escape with the game tied. Rangers 1, Twins 1.

Top of Sixth

Twins Pitching Change: Devin Smeltzer for Chris Archer

Pitching Line for Archer: Five innings, three hits, one run (earned), one walk, five strikeouts, 77 pitches, 45 strikes.

Smeltzer, who has been a starter all season, made his first relief appearance of 2022 and gave up a 2-0 single to Lowe, but it glanced off Smeltzer’s glove first before it just got out of the infield. García then hit a towering pop-up, but Polanco in second was unable to see the ball due to the sky not being completely dark. It fell into the infield, but they were still able to to force Lowe out at second. But García was safe at first and it was scored a fielder’s choice. Mark Mathias, pinch-hitting for Miller, swung at the first pitch and lined it to Polanco, who was in line with second base in the shift. García remained at first. With Taveras at the plate, the Twins challenged a safe call on Smeltzer’s pickoff attempt of García. The call stood and García remained at first base. Taveras singled to center to move García to second base. Duran, with a chance to give the Rangers back the lead, hit a screaming grounder past Correa into field field. The relay throw from Cave was cut off by Smeltzer near the pitcher’s mound that gave García all the time he neeed to score from second to give the Rangers the lead. Viloria then grounded out to Arraez at first base to end the inning. Rangers 2, Twins 1.

Bottom of Sixth

Polanco led off as Otto went for a sixth inning and a quality start. Polanco grounded out to Semien, who was playing on the outfield grass, for the first out. Kepler then grounded out to Semien, who again was playing on the outfield grass as the Rangers were in the shift on the left-handed Kepler. Miranda drew a six-pitch walk to extend the inning. With that walk, Rangers manager Tony Beasley went to the bullpen.

Rangers Pitching Change: Brett Martin for Glenn Otto

Martin faced Gordon with a runner on first and two out. Gordon grounded out to Duran, who forced out Miranda at second, to end the inning. Rangers 2, Twins 1.

Otto Pitching Line: 5 2/3 innings, three hits, one run (unearned), three walks, one strikeout, 86 pitches, 48 strikeouts.

Top of Seventh

Thompson led off the seventh with a grounder to Miranda, who needed everything on his throw to get the speedy Thompson out at first base. Semien flew out to Gordon in center field for the second out. Seager then hit a line shot into right field for a hit to extend the inning for Lowe. He swung at the first pitch and popped it into foul territory, but Cave was unable to make the catch. Lowe then dropped in a broken-bat single to right field to put more pressure on Smeltzer, who received a mound visit in advance of facing Garcia with two on and two out. But, Garcia flew out to Kepler in right to end the inning. Rangers 2, Twins 1.

Bottom of Seventh

Rangers pitching change: Brock Burke for Brett Martin

Martin Pitching Line: 1/3 inning, no hits, no runs, no walks, no strikeouts, two pitches, two strikes.

Burke returned to the mound for the second straight night and the Rangers hanging on to a one-run lead. Gio Urshela came in to pinch hit and reached second on a line shot to left fielder Bubba Thompson. Eventually that was scored a double. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli then used Gilberto Celestino as a pinch-runner for Urshela. That led to Sanchez striking out swinging for the first out. Arraez then grounded out to Semien, but it did allow Celestino to advance to third. Rangers pitching coach Doug Mathis then paid Burke a visit before he faced Correa. Burke struck him out swinging to end the threat. Rangers 2, Twins 1.

Top of Eighth

Mathias, who stayed in the game as the designated hitter, struck out against Smeltzer, who started his third inning of relief. Taveras then tried to bunt onto first base, but Arraez handled the play cleanly for the second out. Duran popped out to Polanco to end the inning. Rangers 2, Twins 1.

Bottom of Eighth

Rangers Pitching Change: Matt Moore for Brock Burke

Burke Pitching Line: One inning, one hit, no runs, no walks, two strikeouts, 19 pitches, 12 strikes.

The Rangers turned to their other quality left-handed reliever in Matt Moore to set up the Rangers close out the game in the ninth inning. Buxton struck out swinging to lead off the frame. Polanco followed with a flyout to Thompson in left field. Kepler walked with two outs to bring up Miranda. That prompted a Mathis mound visit to Moore. Miranda worked Moore to a full-count and hit a line drive into center field to Taveras. Kepler wanted to score all the way from first, and he did, in part because the throw from Taveras was low and Semien was unable to gather it in time to make a throw home. Kepler’s run tied the game. Gordon ended the inning with a ground out to Duran at third base, who forced out Miranda. Rangers 2, Twins 2.

Top of Ninth

Twins Pitching Change: Jorge Lopez for Devin Smeltzer

Smeltzer pitching line: Three innings, five hits, one run (earned), no walks, one strikeout, 45 pitches, 32 strikes.

With the game tied, the Twins brought in Lopez to see if he could keep the game tied for the Twins’ final at-bat in regulation. The Rangers turned to Jonah Heim as a pinch-hitter for Viloria. Heim hit a long fly ball to Celestino in left field for the first out. Lopez then hit Thompson with a pitch and appeared to catch Thompson in the forearm. Semien stepped in for his fifth at-bat of the night. He grounded into a quick double play as Polanco was playing right up the middle and in perfect position for Semien’s grounder. That ended the inning. Rangers 2, Twins 2.

Bottom of Ninth

Rangers Pitching Change: Jonathan Hernández for Matt Moore

Moore Pitching Line: One inning, one hit, one run (one earned), one walk, one strikeout, 30 pitches, 16 strikes.

The Rangers brought in Hernández to try and extend the game into a 10th inning. Heim stayed in the game to catch after pinch-hitting. Celestino, who entered the game earlier as a pinch-runner, took his first plate appearance. He grounded out to Lowe at first base. Sánchez came up next and singled to right. That gave Arraez the chance to put Sánchez in position to score the winning run. But, he grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and … free baseball. Rangers 2, Twins 2.

Top of 10th

Twins Pitching Change: Caleb Thielbar for Jorge Lopez

Lopez Pitching Line: One inning, no hits, no runs, no walks, no strikeouts, nine pitches, six strikes.

Semien started the inning as the ghost runner at second base with Seager at the plate. He clobbered an RBI single to right, scoring Semien. Lowe then singled to left, moving Seager to second. After García struck out, the Twins went back to the bullpen.

Twins Pitching Change: Griffin Jax for Caleb Thielbar

Jax faced Mathias, who singled and drove in Seager to give the Rangers a 4-2 lead. That moved Lowe to second base. Taveras struck out looking. Duran grounded out to Correa, who tossed the ball to Polanco to force out Mathias at second base.

Rangers 4, Twins 2

Theilbar Pitching Line: 1/3 inning, two hits, two runs (one earned), no walks, one strikeouts, 11 pitches, eight strikes.

Bottom of 10th

Hernández went back to the mound for a second inning for the Rangers and faced the heart of the Twins order, led by Correa. Arraez started the inning as the ‘zombie runner’ at second. Correa drew a four-pitch walk to put two runners on. Buxton then struck out looking on three pitches for the first out. Polanco, who had no hits in four at-bats on Saturday, grounded out to Semien for the second out. He did have trouble controlling the hop and it did move both Arraez and Correa 90 feet. Kepler represented the Twins’ last chance to tie or win, and he reached first on a fielding error by Hernández, who couldn’t pick up the weak grounder. That scored Arraez and cut the Rangers’ lead by a run. Correa moved up to third base, representing the tying run. Miranda now had the chance to extend or win the game. But he flew out to Thompson in left field to end the game. Final: Rangers 4, Twins 3.

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard

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