Fox pitches depleted Twins past Rangers
September 4, 2010
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—Denard Span(notes) delivered the go-ahead single in the seventhinning, emergency starter Matt Fox pitched 5 2-3 innings in his major leaguedebut, and the depleted Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers 4-3 on Fridaynight.
Former Minnesota Twins pitchin… AP – Sep 3, 9:28 pm EDT Tex-Min Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init(); Series at a Glance Texas 3 Minnesota 4 Fri, Sep 3 – Final Texas at Minnesota Sat, Sep 4 – 4:10 pm ET Texas at Minnesota Sun, Sep 5 – 2:10 pm ET
Fox allowed two runs and four hits, giving the Twins’ staff a major boostafter scheduled starter Nick Blackburn(notes) was forced to pitch in Thursday’s13-inning loss to Detroit.
Alex Burnett(notes) (2-2 ), who arrived with Fox from Triple-A earlier Friday,allowed a run in 1 1-3 innings. Matt Capps(notes) recorded five outs for his eighthsave with the Twins and 34th overall.
With one out and runners on first and third in the eighth, Capps struck outNelson Cruz(notes) and got Ian Kinsler(notes) to ground out.
Josh Hamilton(notes) singled with one out in the eighth, and then left the gamewith lower back stiffness. Hamilton had missed the Rangers last two games with asore knee.
The Rangers went ahead in the seventh when Kinsler scored on Julio Borbon’s(notes)squeeze bunt. Rangers starter Derek Holland(notes) (2-3) was unable to hold the lead.
J.J. Hardy(notes) tied it with an RBI single off reliever Alexi Ogando(notes). Span putthe Twins ahead when his single off Matt Harrison(notes) scored Jason Repko(notes).
The Twins were scrambling to find enough arms just to get through the gameagainst a solid Texas lineup. Besides Blackburn, starter Brian Duensing(notes) was alsoused on Thursday. Relievers Jeff Manship(notes), Jesse Crain(notes) and Matt Guerrier(notes) havebeen used extensively the past few days and were not available.
Fox’s debut was more impressive considering it came on a night when 34 ofthe Twins all-time greats were in attendance.
The game started a half hour later than usual so the Twins could honor the50 greatest players in team history during a pregame ceremony. Twins legendssuch as Harmon Killabrew, Kent Hrbek and Tony Oliva were introduced and gatheredaround home plate as video tributes played on the big screen and fans cheered.
Hot-hitting Twins rookie Danny Valencia(notes) had two hits, but left the game inthe seventh with a tight hamstring.
Notes: Cliff Lee(notes) returned to the Rangers after flying to Dallas on Wednesdayto receive a cortisone shot in his aching back. Lee will throw a bullpen sessionon Saturday, after which the team will determine if he will make his nextscheduled start on Tuesday. … Twins starter Scott Baker(notes) received a cortisoneshot after leaving Thursday’s start after two innings. Manager Ron Gardenhiresaid Baker will likely miss his next two starts. … An MRI and X-ray on Twins’OF Jason Kubel’s(notes) left wrist revealed no significant damage. Kubel has missed thelast three games, but hopes to return to the lineup on Sunday.
