Texas Rangers (53-66) @ Minnesota Twins (60-60) Aug 17-19

dangla. · Post by **dangla.** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:47 pm

Friday, August 17
Kason Gabbard, LHP (5-1, 3.83) @ Carlos Silva, RHP (9-12, 4.30)

Scouting Report:

Rangers: Gabbard left early in his last start against Tampa Bay with stiffness in his left forearm. He left after 1 1/3 innings allowing one hit with two strikeouts. Gabbard said the stiffness was a minor setback and he would be ready to pitch against the Twins, a team he has never faced.

Twins: If there is a pitcher that can't catch a break for the Twins, it's Silva. He left his last start having thrown seven scoreless innings against the Angels and with his club holding a 2-0 lead, only to see the bullpen erase that potential win. Silva has been impressive at home this season, going 6-4 with a 3.63 ERA in 12 starts. That success hasn't been duplicated against Texas, as Silva is 2-4 with a 5.49 ERA in seven career starts vs. the Rangers.

Saturday, August 18

Kameron Loe, RHP (5-9, 5.80) @ Boof Bonser, RHP (5-9, 4.77)

Scouting Report:

Rangers: Loe is expected to be activated off the disabled list (back) and return to the Rangers' rotation. In his rehab start on Monday at Double-A Frisco, Loe allowed three runs (two earned) on one hit over three innings. He had five walks, with just one strikeout. In one start against the Twins this season, Loe allowed five runs (all earned) on eight hits over six innings in a losing effort. He is 2-1 with a 2.21 ERA in four career games against Minnesota.

Twins: The right-hander had troubles his last time out against the Angels. Giving up five runs over 5 2/3 innings, Bonser had issues making the big pitches when needed late in his outing. Bonser has not won a start since June 10, though a lot of that has to do with a scuffling Twins offense. He is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two career starts against the Rangers.

Sunday, August 19

Kevin Millwood, RHP (8-9, 5.63) @ Johan Santana, LHP (12-9, 3.02)

Scouting Report:

Rangers: Millwood allowed three runs -- one earned -- on four hits with nine strikeouts over seven innings in his last start against Kansas City. He has not allowed a home run in his last 10 starts. In six career starts against the Twins, Millwood is 0-3 with a 7.26 ERA.

Twins: Santana delivered another solid, if not spectacular, outing in his last start. He held the Mariners to just three runs over seven innings. A torn fingernail has hampered Santana over his last few outings, limiting the number of sliders that he can throw. But it seems that the left-hander is starting to get back into his usual second-half form. Santana is 3-2 with a 5.05 ERA in eight career starts against the Rangers.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:38 pm

Carlos Silva (rear) tries to lead a gaggle
of Twins pitchers to victory against the
Texas Rangers.

MIN1 TEX1 7th

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:52 pm

MIN1 TEX1 Bot 10th

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:54 pm

DAS PUNTO!

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:00 pm

MIN2 TEX1 Final

digging, digging, digging.......out of their hole.

The Twins just won a game that they've found a way to lose most of the year.

HShockeywatcher · Post by **HShockeywatcher** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:13 pm

Who woulda thunk Punto to be the one to win the game for us?

dangla. · Post by **dangla.** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:38 pm

punto gw? isnt h hitting like a .209 BA

HShockeywatcher · Post by **HShockeywatcher** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 12:04 am

Not sure if that was sarcasm or not.

Actually he's at a .204, which is 2nd to last of the 9 guys that usually start, with Rondell being last at a .153 which is amazing being that his career is .284 and he's sucked being plagued with injuries ever since he's been here.

So yeah, huge surprise Punto would have anything offensive to offer the team.

EREmpireStrikesBack · Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:57 am

Difference between Rondell & Punto is 300+ ABs. Rondell can easily get his average way up with a couple good games, not so with Punto.

And Punto better have won it, he blew plenty of other situations in the game with runners on.

I told the people I went to the game with that the only way that Punto gets out of the doghouse with the fans (some booed when he came to the plate) was to get a HR (not gonna happen) or a triple (it was kinda that, even though the error was involved). The Twins also had the AL leaderboard for team triples up on the jumbotron which I thought was semi-ironic.

Anyway, fun game last night

HShockeywatcher · Post by **HShockeywatcher** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:42 am

I wasn't putting Rondell down at all. Just curious why Punto is still in the lineup is all.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:24 pm

MINO TEXO 3rd

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:37 pm

Irishmans Shanty wrote:MINO TEXO 3rd

The best pre-game "Twins Live" ever.

Send Bruno to left, hand the ball to Senor Smoke. They look like they can still play.

grindiangrad-80 · Post by **grindiangrad-80** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 7:46 pm

Now I'll be humming the Berenguer Boogie all night.

State Champ 97 · Post by **State Champ 97** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:31 pm

Neutron 14 wrote:
Irishmans Shanty wrote:MINO TEXO 3rd
The best pre-game "Twins Live" ever.

Send Bruno to left, hand the ball to Senor Smoke. They look like they can still play.

Absolutey the best ever. I had tears in my eyes thinking that was 20 years ago.

Irishmans Shanty · Post by **Irishmans Shanty** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:39 pm

State Champ 97 wrote:
Neutron 14 wrote:
Irishmans Shanty wrote:MINO TEXO 3rd
The best pre-game "Twins Live" ever.

Send Bruno to left, hand the ball to Senor Smoke. They look like they can still play.
Absolutey the best ever. I had tears in my eyes thinking that was 20 years ago.

In those days we didn't have cable, I remember listening to the game @TEX when they clinched the division, I was so happy because I knew I could watch the playoffs on the National feed.

Game 1 against DET, I'll never forget the GMan's HR.

Meanwhile

MINO TEX5 7th

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:06 pm

State Champ 97 wrote: Absolutey the best ever. I had tears in my eyes thinking that was 20 years ago.

20 years ago. Sounds like a good thread. What could Bong possibly add?

dangla. · Post by **dangla.** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:51 pm

wow bonder seems worse when your at the game.

the homer hankeys are pretty cool thou