Dein erstes Forum » and the Heat will have at least two available

MINNEAPOLIS -- It looks as if the Minnesota Twins are finally coming around at the plate.Max Kepler homered twice and set a Twins rookie record by driving in seven runs, helping Minnesota rout the Texas Rangers 17-5 on Saturday.The Twins entered the game having scored the fewest runs in the American League. But they hit six homers last Sunday in a win at Yankee Stadium, and then they averaged five runs in a three-game series at the White Sox.And Saturday was pretty nice, too.Eduardo Nunez had four hits for the Twins, who scored at least three runs in four of the first five innings. Keplers second home run of the day capped a six-run fifth inning and gave the Twins a 17-4 lead.We know the struggles offensively arent going to be all year long, Nunez said. It has to change at some point.Texas right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez (0-1) recorded just two outs in his second start of the season. Gonzalez walked two batters and gave up two hits in Minnesotas four-run first. He also was hurt by poor defense, with misplays on three consecutive batters extending the inning.Rangers manager Jeff Banister pulled him after 38 pitches.You get into a situation like that -- young kid, could have pushed him to one more hitter, Banister said. Wherever that takes him, hes out of that game anyway. Im going to protect him.Cesar Ramos replaced Gonzalez and was charged with seven runs in 2 1/3 innings as the Twins worked their way through the Texas bullpen. The Rangers finally turned to backup catcher Bryan Holaday for the last four outs.Tyler Duffey (4-6) was the beneficiary of the outburst, pitching six innings for his second straight win. He gave up four runs and eight hits, including long home runs by Ryan Rua and Robinson Chirinos in the fourth inning.Minnesota slugger Miguel Sano launched a two-run drive into the second deck in left field in the second inning. His 12th homer of the season was his first since returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined him throughout June.Sano was one of three players who shared the previous team rookie record with six RBI. And apparently he wasnt eager to yield the title to Kepler.Sano was telling me during the game that he had eight, so I was a little bummed out about that, Kepler said. But everybody on the bench was like, `No he didnt.Im honored today to even have achieved something like that, Kepler added. But lets keep it going.SAN DIEGO BOUND?Nunez is making a strong argument for an invitation to his first All-Star Game. He led off the first and second with doubles, hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning and singled in the fifth and sixth. He is hitting a team-high .322 with 11 homers, 34 RBI, 42 runs scored and 18 stolen bases.But the seven-year veteran isnt letting the upcoming All-Star announcements distract him.I dont want to put anything in my mind yet, Nunez said. I have no control over that. The only control I have is to play well and do my thing and help the team to win.ROUGH STARTThe Rangers had a rocky first inning with fielding gaffes on three straight plays that led to four runs. With two on and one out, Gonzalez snagged Brian Doziers comebacker, but Rougned Odor dropped the throw to second base, erasing the chance for an inning-ending double play. Kepler then grounded softly to first baseman Mitch Moreland, who threw home too late to force Nunez.Finally, Eduardo Escobar hit a potential double-play grounder, but shortstop Elvis Andrus dropped Odors feed. He recovered in time to retire Kepler, but that opened the door for Juan Centenos two-run single.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: RHP Trevor May (back) pitched a scoreless inning for Triple-A Rochester in his injury rehab assignment on Friday. General manager Terry Ryan said that May would pitch again on Saturday night, his first time pitching on consecutive days since he was put on the DL on June 10. Ryan said May is relatively close to returning to the Twins 25-man roster. . SS Escobar left with a strained left hamstring. He is day to dayUP NEXTRangers LHP Cole Hamels has won four straight starts, giving up just two earned runs in 27 2/3 innings. Hell look to extend that streak on Sunday against Minnesotas Kyle Gibson, who earned his first win of the season on Tuesday. Gibson pitched seven innings in a 4-0 win over the White Sox. Adidas Ultra Boost Canada Sale . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Buy Adidas Ultra Boost Canada .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. http://www.cheapultraboostcanada.com/ . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. Ultra Boost Canada Restock . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. Adidas Ultra Boost Clearance Canada . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. While the focus was on business, there was some basketball Saturday.Free agency dominates the news in early July, so the first of three summer leagues for NBA teams began quietly in Orlando with five games.The Orlando Pro Summer League features 10 teams and runs through next Friday, before action moves out to Utah and then Las Vegas.Charlotte, Dallas, Miami, New York, Indiana, Oklahoma City, Detroit, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Orlando Magic Blue and Orlando Magic White were all in action on opening day.A look at some of the notable action:BIG SHOTSecond-year guard Cameron Payne gave the Thunder an 86-85 victory over Dallas in the opener with a 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds remaining. He finished with 16 points and made a nice first impression on new teammate Victor Oladipo, who was dealt from Orlando to Oklahoma City in a trade on draft night.Im glad I hit the shot for him, Payne told the Magics web site . Hes definitely a cool guy.BLOWOUT BASKETBALLWhile the first two games were competitive, the last three were blowouts.Indiana beat the Magic Blue 93-66, the Pistons hammered the Knicks 81-49, and the Heat routed the Clippers 91-71.SECOND-YEAR STARSAfter reaching the second round of the playoffs as rookies, Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson found things easy in summer league.Winslow scored 21 points and Richardson had 17 in the Heats 91-71 victory over the Clippers. Winnslow was a second-team All-Rookie selection, while Richardson just missed being voted to that team.ddddddddddddWinslows performance was a nice first audition for a starting spot next season, and the Heat will have at least two available. Joe Johnson (Utah) and Luol Deng (Lakers) have both agreed to deals with new teams.MORE SECOND-YEAR STARSStanley Johnson, a top-10 pick a year ago, had 15 points and eight rebounds for Detroit.Joe Young, who got into 41 games for the Pacers after being selected in the second round, had 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, going 5 of 7 from 3-point range.ROOKIE WATCHThe highest-picked player in the recent draft in action Saturday was Detroits Henry Ellenson, the No. 18 selection. The Marquette forward/center had 12 points and eight rebounds, though shot just 4 of 13.Brice Johnson, the No. 25 pick from North Carolina, had six points and six rebounds in his Clippers debut.DAZZLING DEBUTGeorges Niang had 17 points and 12 rebounds in his first appearance for the Pacers. The former Iowa State star was taken with the 50th pick in the draft.PUT ME IN COACH?Juwan Howard Jr. didnt get into the game for the Heat. He can take it up with the coach -- whos also his father. Heat assistant Juwan Howard is running the team in Orlando. ' ' '