The Twins overcame a rough outing by starter Scott Baker and a 3 run deficit to charge past the Rangers for the 12-6 win. The team was able to break out offensively in a big way and came through when they really needed to score.
Many Twins had great games including Delmon Young, who some feel is not living up to expectations. After the team came back from a 5-2 deficit to tie it up, Young helped bust the game open with a 2 out, 2 RBI single in the 7th. The icing on the cake was Michael Cuddyer’s 3 run homer in the 8th. Brendan Harris went 3 for 5 with a double and 2 runs scored. Mike Lamb got 3 hits, including a double, scored 1 run and drove in 2. The only Twin not to get a hit was leadoff man Matt Tolbert, who went 0 for 6, but did reach base on a Texas error in the 8th. He then stole 2nd and later scored on a Joe Mauer single.
Scott Baker struggled, giving up 4 runs in the third on a pair of 2 RBI hits by Josh Hamilton and David Murphy. He gave up one more run in the 5th before exiting with just one out, but on a positive note, did strike out 7 Rangers. Matt Guerrier then came in with the bases loaded but did not surrender a run. The bullpen held up the rest of the way, only allowing a run in the ninth to seal the win.
Perhaps most important of all, the Twins were abe to start a huge rally, scoring 10 runs over the space of 3 consecutive innings to pull ahead for good. This was something they had not been able to do the past few games, so it bodes well for the future. Baker had to leave his start with a groin strain, so that might raise a few eyebrows in concern, as he continues to distance himself from the problems he had in Spring Training.
