Texas survived a giant ninth-inning comeback in a 5-4 win over the Twins Friday night in Arlington, Texas.
Minnesota trailed 5-0 entering the ninth, and with just three hits to show after eight innings of baseball, the game was all but over.
But Texas closer Joakim Soria was rocked by a Twins’ lineup that took the form of an angry wasp. The play-by-play in the ninth was great.
- Josh Willingham started the ninth with a nine-pitch walk
- Kendrys Morales doubled to left
- Oswaldo Arcia squirted a single up the middle to score Willingham
- Eduardo Escobar reached on an error that allowed Morales to score
- Sam Fuld fouled out to the catcher
And then 20-year-old rookie Jorge Polanco stepped to the plate as a pinch-hitter. In his first major league at-bat, Polanco ripped a two-strike, two-run triple down the right-field line to make it a 5-4 game.
Polanco collected the baseball, but was ultimately stranded at third as Brian Dozier struck out on a high fastball and Kurt Suzuki grounded out to third to end the game.
Something had to give in the game. The Rangers had lost eight consecutive games and the Twins were losers of eight straight on the road.
Nick Tepesch earned the win by cruising through Minnesota’s lineup, scattering three hits while striking out five over 7 1/3 innings.
Kevin Correia took the loss, allowing four runs over six innings. The damage was done with a two-run homer by Adrian Beltre in the first inning, and RBI doubles by Luis Sardinas and Shin-Soo Choo in the fifth. Choo finished with three hits.
Minnesota’s nine-game road losing streak could hit double digits when the two clubs meet Saturday afternoon at 3:05 p.m. The matinee on Saturday features a tremendous pitching matchup, with Phil Hughes starting for the Twins against Texas ace Yu Darvish.
