Rangers earn series split with Twins

Published 8:51 am Friday, July 29, 2011

ARLINGTON, Texas — Matt Harrison worked into the eighth inning to cap his unbeaten July for AL West-leading Texas and won a pitcher’s duel against Minnesota’s Scott Baker in the Rangers’ 4-1 victory Thursday night.

Harrison (9-7) allowed one run over 7 1-3 innings with two strikeouts and a walk. The left-hander won all three of his decisions in his five starts this month.

After Yoshinori Tateyama and Arthur Rhodes retired the only batters they faced, Neftali Feliz rebounded from his two earlier flops in the series with a perfect ninth for his 21st save in 26 chances.

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Michael Young and Chris Davis had RBI singles early that put Texas ahead to stay. The Rangers earned a split in the four-game series and maintained their two-game division lead over the Los Angeles Angels, who won earlier Thursday at Cleveland.

The Rangers had lost two straight against Minnesota after opening the series with a 20-6 win Monday night when they had the most runs and hits (27) in the majors this season.

Baker (8-6) struck out four with no walks while allowing two runs over seven innings in his second start since returning from the disabled list because of a right flexor strain. The right-hander was 6-1 with a 1.50 ERA his previous seven starts, including five scoreless innings in his return Saturday against Detroit.