Minnesota Twins Early Offense Targets The Angels on National Television

Fox Saturday baseball featured the 100th differently lineup for Manager Mike Scioscia's Los Angeles Angels visiting the Minnesota Twins in the new Target Field. 

A two run single for Michael Cuddyer gave the Twins an early lead against the novice Trevor Bell for the Angels in the bottom of the first inning after walking two batters.  Bell put Jim Thome on base as the third of the first six batters, and Cuddyer was driven in by Delman Young to score 3-0 Twins before ending the inning on a strike out.

Once again battling from behind with less than 40 games remaining to close a seven plus game deficit to AL West rival Texas, the Angels came up in the second inning. Hideki Matsui smacked a leadoff single and a contact play pushed him to third as Erick Aybar broke a zero for fifteen hitting slump.

All was not lost yet however as the Angel's put together an offensive display with a sac fly to score Matsui by Mike Napoli.  Then Peter o blasted his first major league home run to tie the game at three.  Bobby Abreu gave the halos the lead with his fifteenth shot of the year. Hits from Callaspo and Kendrick continued the threat with Torii Hunter coming to bat to end the inning.

Trevor Bell battled out of trouble in the third.  Another hit and run single by Aybar put Matsui on the corners followed by a comical hand mime from Hideki that he still had some wheels on the carriage.  No runs scored however in the inning for Los Angeles and that would be the last action for Kevin Slowey.

Peter Bourjos legged out an RBI triple to increase the Angel's lead to 5-3 in the fifth inning. Trevor Bell was lifted in the fifth for Francisco Rodriguez after putting two on with a total of 6 walks allowed.  A play at the plate saved a run by Peter Bourjos to throw out Jason Kubel and leave the bases loaded.

More two out magic for the Angels taking the lead 7-3 on a Jason Kubel error and Erick Aybar RBI hit to bring home Matsui from third base.  A pitching injury resulted from another error removing Mayhay from the game for Minnesota bringing former closer Jon Rauch, tallest player in MLB history, into the game for the Twins.

A win brings the Texas Rangers' AL West lead to 7.5 games.