Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Sports

Grimm pitches shutout ball, Rangers hold off Twins

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Minneapolis, MN – Justin Grimm pitched seven innings of shutout baseball and the Texas Rangers defeated the Minnesota Twins, 4-3, on Friday.

"Because of the injuries opportunity presented itself," Texas manager Ron Washington said of Grimm, who is filling in for the injured Matt Harrison.

Grimm (2-0) allowed just five hits and had four strikeouts for the Rangers, who have won the first two of this four-game series. Joe Nathan allowed a three-run homer to Oswaldo Arcia, but still picked up his eighth save.

Adrian Beltre smashed a solo shot while Lance Berkman, Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler had an RBI apiece in the victory.

Justin Morneau had two of the eight hits for the Twins, who have lost three straight after a five-game winning streak. Starter Scott Diamond (1-2) gave up three runs on 12 hits over 6 1/3 innings.

"Hopefully we'll heat up here as an offense. We've been a little inconsistent," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Berkman got things started in the first when his double plated Elvis Andrus, who also doubled and stole third base. Two batters later, Cruz knocked a double of his own, bringing Berkman home.

The Rangers continued to deliver hits against Diamond but weren't able to score until the sixth, when Beltre homered with one out in the frame.

Texas tacked on one more run in the ninth, when Kinsler doubled with two outs, scoring Craig Gentry.

The Twins finally got on the board in the last of the ninth. With Joe Ortiz pitching for the Rangers, Josh Willingham doubled to leadoff and Morneau singled, advancing Willingham to third. After Chris Parmelee struck out, Nathan came in to replace Ortiz. He struck out Trevor Plouffe but allowed the three-run home run by Arcia. Ryan Doumit came into pinch-hit for Aaron Hicks, but flied out to center to end the game.

Game Notes

Hicks has reached base in 13 of 18 games this season, including eight straight ... The Rangers were 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base ... Andrus had a stolen base, his fifth of the season ... Texas has won five straight at Target Field and are 255-250 all-time against the Twins.