Game 92: Rangers beat Twins in 12
Minnesota @ Texas (Game 3 of 3)
The Twins and the Rangers went to 12 innings on Sunday but Ian Kinsler hit two home runs, one to start the game and one to end the game, to put the Rangers over the Twins 5-3 and prevented the three game sweep.
Ian Kinsler got the Rangers off to a quick start by sending the second pitch from Francisco Liriano over the wall in center field to make it 1-0. The Twins, however, would get a rare power surge from Nick Punto who hit a home run in the top of the third to tie the game at one. The home run was the first of the season for Punto and the first of his three hits during the game.
The Twins would take the lead in the fourth off a bases loaded sacrifice fly from Denard Span that scored Delmon Young. Alexi Casilla would extend the lead by hitting a line drive single to score Carlos Gomez to make it 3-1 in favor of the Twins. The Rangers would get one run back in the fifth when a passed ball would get by Joe Mauer allowing Marlon Byrd to score. David Murphy advanced to third on the play but Liriano would shut down the next two batters with strike outs to end the scoring threat.
Liriano would continue to pitch into the seventh inning before giving up back-to-back hits and being pulled from the game. Bobby Keppel came in to relieve Liriano as Jarrod Saltalamacchia advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt and Elvis Andrus tied the game with a sacrifice fly to score Byrd. Liriano would be charged for the run which would give him a total of three runs, two earned, off five hits with six strike outs and three walks over six complete innings.
Both the Twins and the Rangers would fail to score throughout the remaining innings with both teams leaving runners in scoring position. Brian Duensing would come in the 11th and retire the side in order with two strike outs and a ground out. Duensing, however, would give up a lead of single to Saltalamacchia, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Andrus. With a runner in scoring position, R.A. Dickey was brought into the game and left a 1-2 fastball up for Ian Kinsler to hit over the wall in left field for the walk off home run.
Although Dickey gave up the home run, Duensing was charged with the loss as he was responsible for the runner in scoring position.
Attendance: 27,204 (Rangers Ballpark in Arlington)
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