Seager, Mathias hits in 10th lead Rangers past Twins 4-3
By TYLER MASON
Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Corey Seager hit a go-ahead single in the 10th inning and Mark Mathias added an RBI single in the frame, leading the Texas Rangers to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.
Seager’s hit off Twins reliever Caleb Thielbar (2-2) drove in Marcus Semien, who was the automatic runner at second base. Mathias later drove in Seager with a single to center off Griffin Jax.
Minnesota scored a run in the 10th after reliever Jonathan Hernández (1-0) couldn’t handle a slow roller off the bat of Max Kepler. But Jose Miranda flew out one batter later to end the game with runners on the corners.
Texas improved to 8-25 in one-run games. Interim manager Tony Beasley is 3-3 since replacing Chris Woodward.
The Rangers’ struggles in one-run games has been well-documented. Beasley was happy to be on the right side of one Saturday after a 2-1 loss Friday.
“I wish I could dictate the score every night and it’d be a three or four run differential,” Beasley said. “We find our way in one-run games somehow. We’ve just got to win them.”
Right-hander Glenn Otto put together a strong start for Texas, allowing one unearned run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings. Chris Archer also allowed one run on three hits for Minnesota in five innings.
Otto did issue three walks, his third straight game walking three or more batters. But, he otherwise kept Minnesota’s hitters quiet.
“A lot of really good plays behind me,” Otto said. “For the most part, I stayed ahead and battled, made good pitches when I had to.”
Miranda, Minnesota’s talented rookie, tied the game in the eighth with a single to center that scored Kepler from first base for his 53rd RBI of the season. He had the chance to play the role of hero again in the 10th, but couldn’t get a hit off Hernández, who pitched multiple innings for the first time all season.
“Tough pitcher,” Miranda said. “Sinker-baller at 99 and some good sliders. I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit. He threw me a good slider. … I just missed it by a tick.”
Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia had two hits and extended his hitting streak to 17 games.
Ezequiel Duran delivered a go-ahead single in the top of the sixth to put the Rangers up 2-1. The hit came after the Twins challenged a call on a pickoff move to first base that stood after review.
ROSTER MOVE
Prior to Saturday’s game, the Twins placed RHP Tyler Mahle on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to Aug. 18. Mahle exited Thursday’s start after just 2 1/3 innings.
“He’s actually been doing as well as we could have hoped since coming out of the game against the Royals,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I think this is just a wise and forward-looking move.”
Mahle is 1-0 with a 2.51 ERA in three starts since he was traded to the Twins. Minnesota recalled LHP Devin Smeltzer from Triple-A St. Paul to take Mahle’s spot on the roster.
TWINS HALL OF FAMER
The Twins inducted former manager Ron Gardenhire into the team’s Hall of Fame before Saturday’s game.
Gardenhire managed the Twins from 2002-14, leading Minnesota to six division titles with a career record of 1,068-1,039. Nearly two dozen of his former players were on hand for the induction ceremony.
“This group of guys, some of them got me fired,” Gardenhire joked. “And I still love them to death.”
The Twins will induct Dan Gladden and the late Cesar Tovar into the team’s Hall of Fame on Sunday.
TRAINERS ROOM
Rangers: RF Kole Calhoun could be activated soon from the IL, Beasley said. Calhoun was with the club Saturday in Minnesota. He has been sidelined since Aug. 3 with right heel irritation.
UP NEXT
RHP Kohei Arihara (0-1, 4.76 ERA) will make his second start of the year for the Rangers. Minnesota counters with Joe Ryan (9-5, 3.92), who earned a win his last time out against Kansas City.
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