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CHOO CHOO!
The Rangers are now winners of an MLB best six straight games thanks in part to Shin-Soo Choo reaching base for a 35th consecutive game.
Choo’s big adventure on the bases tonight wasn’t a stop at just one station but a brisk jog to touch ‘em all after hitting a two-run dong in the fifth inning to pad the then 2-0 lead and provide the Rangers with a little breathing room by making the contest 4-0.
Because his super power is reaching base, Choo later followed his home run with an intentional walk in his next plate appearance and then a run-scoring single in the ninth to kickoff a crooked number that would make it the 8-1 final score.
Man, Choo’s bat sure looks otherworldly these days, right playoff contenders?
Player of the Game: Mike Minor is starting to take a liking to this whole starting pitching thing. Since a season-worst six runs allowed just 3 1⁄3 innings in a start against Seattle back in mid-May, Minor has now pitched at least five innings and given up four or fewer in his last six starts — with three or fewer runs and six or greater innings in each of his last three starts.
Tonight, Minor allowed a season-best tying one run, on just three hits, while striking out three in his six innings of work. As AJM noted yesterday, the Rangers just don’t walk folks these days and that trend continued tonight as Minor walked two Twins batters.
Minor has now walked two or fewer in every start this season except for one — when he gave up three free passes to the Red Sox on May 3.
Up Next: The Rangers will try to inexplicably recreate the inverse of the seven games prior to their current six game stretch with Yovani Gallardo on the mound. The Twins will counter with veteran RHP Jake Odorizzi to try to put to end to Texas’ revelry. First pitch from Target Field is set for 1:10 pm CT for the Saturday affair.