Minnesota @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2011 ) Minnesota 7, Texas 2

THE STORY: The Minnesota Twins managed to tame the Texas Rangers' high-powered offense Wednesday and received some long-awaited power from one of their own in the process. Three-time batting champion and former MVP Joe Mauer belted his first home run since last September, ending a 54-game drought. Minnesota held Texas to two runs after surrendering 28 over the first two contests of the four-game set. The Twins go for the series win in the finale on Thursday, while Texas tries to avoid a third straight home loss after winning 10 of its previous 11 at Rangers Ballpark.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), FSN Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Scott Baker (8-5, 2.88 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Matt Harrison (8-7, 3.05 ERA).

Baker appeared to be fully recovered from a strained elbow Saturday. He tossed five scoreless innings against Detroit in his first start since July 5. He has allowed just one earned run over 34 1/3 innings in his last five victories and has captured six of his last seven decisions. Baker, who enters with a three-game winning streak, yielded one run in a complete-game triumph over Texas on June 11.

Harrison has gone 2-0 over his last four starts but settled for a no-decision against Toronto on Saturday after surrendering four runs in 6 2/3 innings. The 25-year old is 4-4 at home this season but has not lost in Arlington since June 7 vs. Detroit. Harrison is 0-2 with a 6.46 ERA in two starts and four relief appearances against Minnesota.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (59-46): RHP Colby Lewis allowed a pair of home runs Wednesday, bringing his season total to an American League-high 26. A crowd of 35,950 helped put Texas over the two-million mark in attendance for the 15th time in 16 seasons. It is the earliest the club has reached the plateau since 2001. The Rangers have lost nine of their last 11 meetings with the Twins, including five of seven this season.

ABOUT THE TWINS (49-55): 2B Alexi Casilla left Wednesday's game with a leg injury after hitting a two-out double in the ninth inning. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Casilla will undergo an MRI on Thursday. Jason Kubel ruined Joe Nathan's chance at team history. Nathan, who is tied with Rick Aguilera for the franchise lead in saves with 254, was preparing to enter the game with Minnesota ahead 4-1. But Kubel hit a three-run double in the top of the ninth inning, nullifying the save situation. 3B Danny Valencia's career-high hitting streak reached 11 games with a single in the fourth.

FINAL PITCH: Lewis fell to 0-4 but lowered his ERA to 8.07 in six career starts against Minnesota. The Twins are one of two AL teams Lewis has failed to beat in the regular season, with the New York Yankees being the other.