 entered the game with a 15.95 ERA and was making his second start for Texas after opening the year with Cincinnati. He promptly fell behind 2-0 just five pitches into the game before turning it around and pitching into the sixth inning.Joe Mauer led off the bottom of the first with a sharp single to left. Then Rosario hit the first pitch he saw into the right-field seats for his 17th home run of the season.But Gallardo settled down, at one point retiring 12 of 13. Morrison's two-run homer with one out in the sixth inning ended Gallardo's day, but he earned his first victory since July 29, 2017, when he was pitching for Seattle.Gallardo gave up four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three. Rangers closer Keone Kela gave up a two-run double to Rosario but he struck out Morrison with the bases loaded to end the game, earning his 18th save in 18 chances.Twins starter Jake Odorizzi (3-5) retired the side in order in the first inning, but the Rangers knocked him out in a six-run second. The big blows were two-run singles by DeShields and Nomar Mazara.Beltre's second hit of the inning finally spelled the end for Odorizzi, who lasted just 1 2/3 innings. It was the shortest start of his career, other than a one-inning start in 2017 that he was forced to leave due to an injury.Chirinos hit a towering two-run homer off reliever Matt Magill that pushed the Texas lead to 8-2 in the third. Beltre added a solo shot in the fourth, the 466th of his career.TRAINER'S ROOMRangers: 1B Joey Gallo left the game in the third inning with left hamstring tightness. He was replaced by Ronald Guzman.Twins: 3B Eduardo Escobar returned to the starting lineup for the first time since he was hit by a pitch on the right elbow in the first inning of Thursday's game against Boston.UP NEXTRangers: RHP Bartolo Colon (4-4, 4.91 ERA) returns to Target Field to face his former teammates in the series finale Sunday afternoon. Colon went 5-6 in 15 starts for the Twins last season as he helped them clinch the second AL wild card spot.Twins: RHP Jose Berrios (7-5, 3.51) will be looking for his first victory since June 7 as Minnesota tries to avoid being swept. In his last two starts he's allowed two earned runs in 12 1/3 innings but took no-decisions against Detroit and Boston.)
TICKETSTICKETSRangers' Choo looks to extend streak against Twins 15m ago• 2 min read MINNEAPOLIS -- Shin-Soo Choo will try to reach base for a 36th consecutive game Saturday when the Texas Rangers continue their three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.The 35-year-old Rangers outfielder extended his streak to 35 games Friday night with a two-run homer against Fernando Romero.His streak is the second longest in baseball this season, trailing only Philadelphia's Odubel Herrera, who reached in 40 straight games. It's the longest by a Rangers player since Mark Teixeira made it on base in 36 straight games in 2006.Julio Franco holds the franchise record for a season with 46 straight games and Will Clark reached in 58 straight games at the end of the 1995 and start of 1996 seasons."I signed here to get on base, that's why they brought me here," Choo said. "When I've been healthy, I've gotten on base." Choo has been on a tear the last month, slashing .306/.468/.556 in his last 30 games, leading to his name being mentioned more frequently in trade rumors as the Rangers remain stuck in the American League West cellar despite winning a season-high six straight games after opening their series in Minnesota with an 8-1 victory Friday night.While he is open to joining a contender for a stretch run, he knows the $50 million-plus owed to him through the 2020 season could make that difficult."Probably (my) contract is still (an obstacle)," Choo admitted earlier this week. "It's probably not easy. I'm not 28 or 30 anymore." The Rangers turn to Yovani Gallardo (0-0, 15.95 ERA) to keep their streak going Saturday. It will be the second start of the season for Gallardo, who was cut by Milwaukee at the end of spring training, then allowed eight runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief before he was cut by Cincinnati and eventually signed a minor league deal with the Rangers.Gallardo posted a 3.81 ERA in 10 starts for Triple-A Round Rock and was called up to face Colorado last Sunday. He allowed five runs and six hits while striking out four in a no-decision."I thought Yo threw the ball well," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "It was similar to what we've seen in the past from Yo. He gave up a couple of soft hits, the walks are something not typical of Yo, but he managed the game and was able to give us some length." Gallardo is 4-2 with a 3.49 ERA in 11 career starts against Minnesota.Jake Odorizzi (3-4, 3.48 ERA) starts Saturday for the Twins, who are looking to get back on track after losing two straight and scoring just three runs in those games combined.Odorizzi is looking for a bounce-back outing himself after the Indians tagged him for four runs in five innings his last time out on Sunday.He is 4-0 with 2.02 ERA in six career starts against the Rangers.The Twins should get a bit of a boost Saturday as third baseman Eduardo Escobar is expected to return to the lineup. He sat out the series opener Friday after taking a pitch to an elbow a day earlier against the Boston Red Sox."I think probably a tad better than I expected," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "He's sore and there's some limitation because there's still a lot of swelling there that impedes his ability probably to throw accurately, as well as take his normal swing. But I'm fairly optimistic that in another, roughly, a little less than 24 hours, that he might be able to start a game tomorrow."
Looking for More Picks?
You can browse all the individual handicapper picks below.
Texas Rangers
Minnesota Twins
Pick Center
MLB
FINAL (6/23/2018)
LightningPlays
