Texas Rangers Finally Score Early, But Bats Go Silent For Final 8 Innings As Minnesota Twins Take Opener

The Texas Rangers scored twice in the first but the Minnesota Twins kept them off the board the next eight and escaped with a win on a ninth-inning run.

Aug 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) runs past Minnesota Twins shortstop Willi Castro (50) during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON — A couple of walks, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly was enough for the Minnesota Twins to escape with a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers Thursday night at Globe Life Field.

Carlos Santana's sac-fly to right-center scored Matt Wallner for the go-ahead run against Rangers All-Star closer Kirby Yates. With one out in the ninth, Yates walked consecutive batters and they moved to second and third on a wild pitch during Santana's at-bat.

The Rangers took a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI single from Adolis García and a sacrifice fly from Josh Jung.

The Twins, however, tied it with two runs in the top of the second. Willi Castro led off with a solo homer and Kyle Farmer followed with an inside-the-park homer on a triple that squirted past Leody Taveras up against the wall in center field. Taveras was given an error and Farmer was credited with a triple.

Bochy reacts to "another tough one." pic.twitter.com/r6i1PQatM8

— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) August 16, 2024

Three thoughts from Thursday's game:

1. Adolis García Stays Hot

Aug 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) runs tp third base during the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Adolis García continued his hot August stretch with season-high-tying three hits. He's reached base safely in 18 of the past 32 game and is batting .500 over the past seven games to raise his average to .227 from .208. He recorded exit velocities of 100 mph or more in Thursday's game (100.6, 102.3, 109.0, 102.9) to tie a single-game career-high. Garcia batted .174 with two homers and 10 RBI in 24 games in July.

Turning 2, the old fashioned way 😉
@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/xmht0rLagR

— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) August 16, 2024

2. Cody Bradford Goes Six

Aug 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cody Bradford (61) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

In his sixth start, and third since returning from the injured list, Cody Bradford held the Twins to two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings. The Twins were hitting him hard early, but Bradford retired nine of 10 batters between the third and fifth innings. He walked the leadoff batter in the sixth and had two on with one out but got an infield popup and flyout to center to end the inning. Bradford threw a career-high 104 pitches.

Cody Bradford on 6 innings tonight ... pic.twitter.com/johpqjvpVd

— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) August 16, 2024

3. Up Next

Aug 5, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney (44) pitches against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Left-hander Andrew Heaney (4-12, 4.05) faces Twins right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (3-3, 3.78) in Game 2 at 7:05 p.m. Friday.

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on X @StefanVersusTex.

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