ARLINGTON, Texas — "Some curious things transpired" is the delicate way Paul Molitor described the Twins' mistake-filled game Friday, a game that the Twins gave away by squandering some offensive opportunities.

Take the sixth inning, for instance: Why, after Eddie Rosario's leadoff single, did Eduardo Nunez decide to try to bunt him to second base? It was only the sixth inning, the Twins owned a one-run lead, and Nunez is one of the team's hottest hitters. Nunez popped the bunt into the air, and it nearly turned into a double play; only pitcher Tony Barnette's brief bobble after catching the ball prevented him from doubling up Rosario at first.

"I haven't talked to Nunie yet about his decision there," Molitor said. But he made it clear he intended to.

Then to make matters worse, Rosario suddenly decided to try to steal second during Robbie Grossman's at-bat. Bad call, Molitor said, because Barnette has one of the fastest deliveries to the plate of any pitcher in the game. "Rosie got overaggressive in a situation where the odds were stacked against him," Molitor said.

Especially when the Rangers chose to pitch out at the exact moment Rosario took off. They didn't steal any signs, Molitor said, because there weren't any; Rosario went on his own, and he was out by so much, he never actually got to the base.

"I'm not sure I can explain why we tried to steal the bag there, given that the guy is about as quick as we see around the league. Not much of a chance unless the throw is in the dirt," Molitor said. "A pitchout was a good call. Obviously, they know more than I do."

And one more costly mistake: After Kennys Vargas led off the eighth inning by collecting his second double of the night, on a pitch that sheared his bat and sent the barrel flying into right field — oddly, Vargas carried the handle to second base with him — Molitor considered a pinch-runner. But he had only two options: Joe Mauer and Eduardo Escobar, and either one would require Mauer to replace Vargas at first base in the bottom of the inning. He didn't want to waste Mauer without getting him to the plate, so he risked having his slowest runner carrying the tying run.

Bad call.

Danny Santana hit a sharp ground ball up the middle that shortstop Elvis Andrus got to quickly. Vargas took off for third base, but was only halfway there when Andrus' throw arrived, catching Vargas in a rundown that spoiled a promising inning.

"He got a little overaggressive on a ball that was hit too sharply to have any chance to advance," Molitor said.