Baseball lore says to avoid the big inning. That holds true, unless of course, the team executing it was the Rangers, who were trying to notch their first win at Target Field on Saturday after going winless last season and losing the first game of this series Thursday.
The Rangers seized control of the game early by hammering Brian Duensing for seven runs on six hits in the second inning. And the hits were not lucky balls that found holes. They were ropes into the gaps and down the lines. Just think, the 11-batter offensive smothering all started with a leadoff walk on a 3-2 pitch to Adrian Beltre. The baseball gods are keenly aware that walks can hurt badly.
After the free pass to Beltre, Mike Napoli doubled him home with the assistance of an outfield bobble during the first of several periods of light rain during the game. Yorvit Torreabla plated Napoli for an RBI single and the first of his two hits. Andres Blanco, playing second base for Ian Kinsler, who should return from paternity leave tomorrow, reached on an infield error at shortstop to prolong the smashing of white balls. But, as a Rangers fan, this wasn’t my misery. I said “Keep it going.”
Elvis Andrus and Craig Gentry apparently heard me and both deposited RBI singles up the middle. Michael Young got in on the act which a two-RBI single breaking an 0-for-18 road skid for the man who is now two games shy of passing Rafael Palmeiro for all-time franchise record for games played (1,573 currently). Despite three hits, Young is still expected to not play Saturday. Beltre added an RBI double in his second at-bat of the inning. Nelson Cruz made two of the outs and Josh Hamilton made the other.
Needless to say, Duensing needed 56 pitches over two innings. (45 in the second inning alone), But Anthony Swarzak provided six innings of two-run relief for the Twins. C.J. Wilson improved to 7-3 for the Rangers.
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