Twins 6, Rangers 5
Michael Cuddyer doubled in two runs and Nick Blackburn pitched seven strong innings as the Minnesota Twins earned a sweep of the Texas Rangers with a bizarre 6-5 victory on Sunday.
Trailing 6-2 going into the ninth, the Rangers made a game of it but were ultimately snakebitten on a rare interference call.
Julio Borbon kickstarted the rally attempt with a two-out RBI double off Jon Rauch, prompting the Twins to bring closer Matt Capps into the game. Capps promptly gave up a run-scoring single to Cristian Guzman, a base hit to Michael Young and a walk to David Murphy.
Vladimir Guerrero followed with a single to left center that brought home Guzman to make it 6-5. Young represented the tying run but made contact with third-base coach Dave Anderson while rounding the base, and umpire Alfonso Marquez made the interference call that resulted in Young being called out.
Rangers manager Ron Washington argued the call, but to no avail.
Denard Span had two RBIs and Jason Kubel made his return to the lineup with a pair of his for the Twins, who maintained a 3 1/2-game lead over the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central.
Cuddyer got Minnesota on the board right away, plating Orlando Hudson and Joe Mauer with his double in the first off left-hander C.J. Wilson. Texas tied it up with two in the second, but Span gave the Twins the lead again with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame.
J.J. Hardy, Span and Hudson added RBIs in a three-run sixth as Minnesota knocked Wilson (14-6) out of the game and took control. Wilson was charged with all six runs in 5 1/3 innings, marking just the fifth time in 28 starts this season that he allowed more than three earned runs.
Blackburn (9-9), who had his start pushed back from Friday to Sunday after being used in relief in Thursday’s extra-inning loss, surrendered six hits and walked three while striking out four.
Capps held on for his ninth save with the Twins, and 35th of the season.