This was a game that neither starting pitcher deserved to lose. Both Kyle Gibson and Joe Saunders occasionally ran into trouble, but the two of them were always able to find a way to escape. By the time both were out of the game, it was still 0-0.
In the 7th inning and with Jared Burton on the mound, Rangers center fielder Leonys Martin bunted the ball in between the mound and home plate. While not necessarily a great bunt, Martin found the perfect spot in between Burton and catcher Kurt Suzuki and was able to beat it out. Martin then stole second base and was brought home on an opposite field single by number nine hitter Luis Sardinas, and that was the only run that would get pushed across.
The Twins did threaten several times but never could take advantage. Brian Dozier led off the game with a double but was stranded. They had runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out in the 2nd but Josh Willingham was caught in a rundown thanks to some bad baserunning on a grounder hit right back to the pitcher Saunders. The 3rd had runners on 1st and 2nd with two outs but nothing came of it. Their last threat came in the 7th when Eduardo Escobar singled and then was sacrificed to second base, but like before, the Twins were unable to score.
WP: Shawn Tolleson (1-1)
LP: Jared Burton (1-2)
S: Joakim Soria (9)
Studs
Kyle Gibson (6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K), Josh Willingham (1 for 2, 2 BB)
Duds
None, no one was awful tonight.