Twins hand Rangers' Hamels a rare defeat
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins got to one of the best pitchers in the American League then hung on late in a 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday afternoon at Target Field.
Minnesota scored five runs off Rangers left-hander Cole Hamels, driving him from the game before he could record an out in the fifth inning. It was Hamels' shortest outing in 29 games since being traded to Texas from the Philadelphia Phillies last summer.
Kurt Suzuki and Robbie Grossman each had two hits and Miguel Sano reached base three times, scoring twice, as the Twins took the rubber match of the three-game series.
Kyle Gibson (2-5) pitched into the seventh inning for his second consecutive win. The right-hander allowed four runs -- two earned -- on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Brandon Kintzler worked around a two-out double in the ninth for his fourth save.
Shin-Soo Choo led the Rangers' attack with a pair of hits, including a solo home run to lead off the game and a two-run double in the seventh inning.
Gibson allowed each of the first three men to reach in the first inning, including Choo's leadoff blast, but forced Adrian Beltre to ground into a 5-3 double play. Gibson retired the next nine batters in a row until Beltre's sharp one-out single in the fourth inning, but erased him on a 4-6-3 double play grounder from Prince Fielder.
In the meantime, the Twins got to Hamels for three runs in the third inning.
Danny Santana led off the inning with a single and stole second with two outs. Sano's infield single put runners on the corner for Brian Dozier, who bashed an opposite field two-run triple off the scoreboard in right-center field. Grossman followed with a run-scoring single to left and a 3-1 lead.
The Twins got three hits against Hamels in the fourth inning but were unable to score after they had two runners thrown out at the plate.
Hamels walked the first two men he faced in the fifth then gave up a single to Grossman to load the bases for rookie Max Kepler, who ripped a sharp single up the middle that scored one and ended Hamels' day.
Eddie Rosario knocked in another run on a fielder's choice ground out later in the inning, closing the book on Hamels (9-2). He allowed five runs on 10 hits and three walks in four-plus innings of work.
Gibson allowed a double to Rougned Odor and an RBI single to Elvis Andrus in the fifth before retiring the side in the sixth and the first two batters of the seventh. A throwing error by Sano allowed Andrus to reach before Gibson walked Jurickson Profar, eliciting manager Paul Molitor from the dugout.
Reliever Ryan Pressly walked pinch hitter Mitch Moreland and allowed a two-run double into the left-field corner by Choo, but got Ian Desmond to ground out to third to end the inning.
NOTES: Rangers 1B Mitch Moreland was a late scratch from the starting lineup because of tightness in his right calf. ... Rangers LHP Michael Roth was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock. Roth, a starter in the minors that will work in the Texas bullpen, was 7-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 17 appearances, including 12 starts, with Round Rock. ... Rangers RHP Luke Jackson was optioned to Double-A Frisco. Jackson pitched in eight games for Texas with a 10.80 ERA. ... Twins 3B Trevor Plouffe was a late scratch from the starting lineup because of sore ribs. ... Twins RHP Kevin Jepsen was designated for assignment. Jepsen was 2-5 with a 6.16 ERA and seven saves in 33 games this season with Minnesota. ... Twins OF Eddie Rosario was recalled from Triple-A Rochester. Rosario hit .200 with three homers and nine RBIs in 32 games with Minnesota but was optioned to Rochester in mid-May. He hit .319 with seven homers and 25 RBIs in 41 games during his stint in the minors.