ARLINGTON, Texas – Right fielder Eddie Rosario’s double to right-center field with two outs in the ninth snapped a tie and lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.
Rosario’s double off Texas closer Shawn Tolleson (1-1) was the ninth extra-base hit of the game for Minnesota and 16th over a two-game stretch.
Rosario’s double scored rookie center fielder Byron Buxton from first in his first major-league game. Buxton went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.
Minnesota Glen Perkins retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth for his 22nd save to preserve the victory for reliever Casey Fien (2-2), who pitched two scoreless innings.
Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier led off the first with a homer off Texas starter Nick Martinez and it was a sign of things to come for the Twins. Included in the nine extra-base hits was a club-record tying four triples.
Minnesota led 2-0 but the Rangers tied the game on solo homers from third baseman Joey Gallo and centerfielder Leonys Martin in the second inning. Texas took a 3-2 lead on a grounder from designated hitter Prince Fielder in the fifth but the Twins answered that in the sixth on an RBI triple from left fielder Shane Robinson.
The Robinson triple of one of three the Twins had in the sixth but they scored just once. It was the first three-triple inning in Twins’ history. Robinson had two of the triples but also was picked off third in the sixth.
NOTES: Minnesota put OF Aaron Hicks on the 15-day disabled list to make room for OF Byron Buxton, who made his major-league debut Sunday. Hicks hurt his right elbow while taking swings in the batting cages Saturday. …Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre had four stitches removed from his left thumb Sunday but is still unable to grip a bat. Beltre went on the DL June 1 with a sprained left thumb. …The Rangers made history in their 11-7 win Saturday. Texas grounded into four double plays and still scored 11 times, the most runs they’ve ever scored while hitting into at least four double plays. …Minnesota 2B Brian Dozier continues to make an assault on the club’s all-time mark for extra-base hits in a season. Dozier, who leads the American League in extra-base hits, is currently on base to have 90 this season. The club record is 84 by Tony Oliva in 1964.