Sano blasts three-run homer, but Twins fall 6-5 to Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Minnesota Twins had another good outing against All-Star pitcher Cole Hamels. But they didn't get a second victory in a week against the Texas left-hander.
After the Twins twice overcame two-run deficits, reliever Ryan Pressly gave up consecutive extra-base hits to the first two batters he faced in the sixth. Bobby Wilson then hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly as the Rangers won 6-5 on Friday night, ending their three-game skid against the AL's worst team.
"Winnable game," manager Paul Molitor said. "We kind of beat ourselves the second half of the game."
Minnesota had five hits and five runs in 4 1/3 innings against Hamels, who matched a career high with six walks. After Miguel Sano hit a three-run homer in the fifth for a 5-4 lead, Hamels faced only three more batters -- walking the last two before leaving after his 109th pitch.
"We made Hamels work," Molitor said. "I don't think he'll say he was as sharp as he's been the last couple starts, but you get a guy up that high in pitch count through five, you did a nice job."
Tony Barnette (6-3) worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Hamels, who went only four innings Sunday in a loss at Minnesota. Sam Dyson worked a perfect ninth for his 18th save.
Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus had RBI triples for the Rangers, who won for only the third time in 10 games but still have the AL's best record at 54-34.
Texas finally went ahead to stay in the sixth. Nomar Mazara leadoff double against reliever Ryan Pressly (2-5) before Andrus tripled and scored the go-ahead run on Wilson's sacrifice fly.
Minnesota got even at 2-all in the second when All-Star third baseman Eduardo Nunez had an RBI infield single.
Shin-Soo Choo and Desmond had consecutive two-out RBI singles in the fourth to make it 4-2.
"Team effort," Andrus said. "Really glad we got this win."
BANGED-UP BUXTON
Twins center fielder Byron Buxton left the game with a bruised right knee after crashing into the outfield wall in the first inning when going after Odor's triple. Buxton, who initially walked back to his position before sitting on the ground, was taken off the field on a motorized cart. He will get an MRI on Saturday.
"The knee just kind of gave out on me out there. Things happen," Buxton said. "I never experienced something like that, so it just kind of made me panic a little bit more."
Buxton said he's was "pretty confident" that it was just a bone bruise.
"He banged that knee the other day, he banged it again," Molitor said. "He's doing a lot better postgame than he was after the collision with the wall, so there's some optimism there."
SHORT HOPS
Twins starter Kyle Gibson struck out six but allowed four runs in five innings, his shortest outing in his last six starts. ... Hamels had six walks for the third time in his career. The last had been in April 2013. ... The Rangers extended their club record to seven straight games when their starter didn't pitch at least five innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: SS Eduardo Escobar hasn't started since last Saturday because of a sore left hamstring. Molitor wants to get him in a game this weekend before the All-Star break.
UP NEXT
Twins: RHP Ricky Nolasco (3-7) makes his team-leading 18th start.
