First venture out of the Central
THREE-GAME SERIES AT GLOBE LIFE PARK
Monday, 7:05 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: RHP Phil Hughes (2-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. LHP Martin Perez (1-2, 3.60)
Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: RHP Ervin Santana (3-0, 0.64) vs. RHP Andrew Cashner (0-1, 2.38)
Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: LHP Hector Santiago (2-1, 2.19) vs. LHP Cole Hamels (1-0, 2.77)
TWINS UPDATE
This is their first series this season against a team outside the AL Central. They were 5-2 against the Rangers last season, and 3-1 in Arlington. They have not swept a series in Arlington in 41 years, since Sept. 7-9, 1976. … The Twins are 3-3 on the road. But they are coming off a 2-7 homestand and have dropped nine of their past 12 games overall. … This is the first meeting between Twins General Manager Thad Levine and the team that employed him for 11 seasons. … They are 4-2 against lefthanded starting pitching, and will face two lefties in this series. … Santana is 6-7 in Arlington in his career, with a 6.93 ERA. His last win there came in 2012. … Hughes, however, owns a 2.89 ERA at Texas, though he hasn't recorded a victory there since 2009. … 1B Joe Mauer trails Kent Hrbek by 10 runs for fourth on the Twins' career list. … C Chris Gimenez has spent two stints with the Rangers, a total of 70 games. He hit .259 with Texas.
RANGERS UPDATE
After a 5-10 start to the season, Texas has recovered by winning four in a row over the weekend against the Royals, two of them in walkoffs. … The Rangers improved to 6-4 at home. … They lead the American League in home runs with 28. But their .211 team batting average ranked 27th in the majors. Seven Texas players have hit three or more home runs; only Miguel Sano has that many (four, actually) for the Twins. … Relief pitching has been a problem; they have a 4.94 bullpen ERA, and RHP Sam Dyson blew all three of his save opportunities before going on the disabled list because of a bruised hand. Matt Bush earned the save in Sunday's 5-2 victory, and Jose Leclerc has the team's only other save this season. … Also on the disabled list: 3B Adrian Beltre (calf) and pitchers Chi Chi Gonzalez (elbow), A.J. Griffin (ankle) and Tyson Ross (shoulder).
PHIL MILLER
