MINNEAPOLIS -- Zack Greinke added to his century-best run on a historic night for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Texas Rangers Store . Greinke pitched six strong innings, Juan Uribe had two RBIs and the Los Angeles Dodgers earned their 10,000th win in franchise history, 6-4 over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night. Greinke (5-0) struck out six and didnt allow an earned run through drizzling rain and temperatures that dipped into the 30s. He now has gone 18 straight regular-season starts of at least five innings while allowing two runs or fewer, the longest run since 1914. He also has opened a season with wins in five straight decisions for the first time since he was 6-0 in his AL Cy Young Award season of 2009. "My stuff was a lot better then," Greinke said. "Im locating better, being smarter. Ive gotten a lot of help here, nice defensive plays." The Dodgers join the Giants, Cubs and Braves as the only franchises to win 10,000 games. Manager Don Mattingly has been around for 275 of those victories. The laid-back former Yankee quipped that he might even keep a souvenir ball from this milestone victory. "If I can get one, it wouldnt be bad to have one," Mattingly said. "It feels pretty good." With the bases loaded and the Twins trailing 5-1 in the seventh, reliever Chris Withrow got Trevor Plouffe to pop out to shortstop on a 3-0 pitch to end the threat. Plouffes two-run double in the ninth made it 6-4, but Kenley Jansen retired Chris Colabello to earn his 10th save in 12 chances. "Thats why hes here. A chance for him," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said about Plouffe getting the green light on 3-0. "Get him in a fastball situation like that, thats what we want to see, and he took a rip." Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier and Yasiel Puig each added two hits and an RBI. Eduardo Escobar had a career-high four hits and two RBIs for the Twins. It rained most of the day on Wednesday and a tarp covered the pitchers mound and batters box at Target Field 15 minutes before first pitch. "It was a good game for us, a little bit of weather," Mattingly said. "You didnt hear any complaining. Guys were ready to play." Greinke wasnt fazed, and won his 12th game in 17 starts since Aug. 5. The right-hander has pitched at least five innings and allowed two runs or fewer in 18 consecutive regular season starts. With Minnesota up 1-0, Drew Butera slid headfirst and touched home just ahead of Kurt Suzukis tag after Hanley Ramierz singled to left in the third. Manager Ron Gardenhire challenged the safe call by home plate umpire Chris Segal, but lost after the call was confirmed following a 2-minute replay review. Uribes two-run single made it 5-1 in the seventh. Minnesota advanced a runner at least to second base six times against Greinke, but couldnt break through beyond Escobars double. Greinke had been 0-3 with a 5.63 ERA at Target Field entering Wednesday. "I thought we made him work really hard tonight," Gardenhire said. "But hes a competitor. He always seems to find a way to get deep in the game and he makes pitches when he has to." Kyle Gibson (3-2) allowed five runs in 6 2-3 innings and lost his second consecutive start after beginning the season 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA. Twins second baseman Brian Dozier did his best to help Gibson. When Gonzalezs grounder to first took a bad hop and ricocheted of Joe Mauers shoulder, Dozier hustled over, dove, and scooped the ball to Gibson with his glove for the out. Tuesdays series opener was postponed due to wintry weather and the two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Thursday. NOTES: Dan Haren (3-0, 2.03 ERA) will start the first game of Thursdays doubleheader for the Dodgers. Mattingly said Red Patterson will "probably" be called up as the 26th man to start the night game. ... Mike Pelfrey (0-2, 7.32) will start the first game for Minnesota and Kris Johnson will make his major league debut in the nightcap. ... Injured ace Clayton Kershaw makes his second minor league rehab start on Wednesday. If all goes well, Mattingly said Kershaw could rejoin the rotation later this week. ... The Target Field scoreboard displayed the score of Game 7 between the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche in the NHL playoffs.
Stitched Rangers Jerseys . Quarterback Drew Willy appeared to injure his throwing hand on the third last play of practice Thursday.
Texas Rangers Gear . For Sweed, a second round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008, this will be his second go around in the CFL after previously having spent time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.It seemed somehow serendipitous that on a day when we turned the calendar to June, the Vancouver Whitecaps were establishing a litany of new “firsts” as they overturned the Portland Timbers in a pulsating, enthralling encounter in the Rose City. Vancouvers first ever win over their expansion cousins (and, obviously, a first at Providence Park) came after nine attempts. That seems hard to believe given the Whitecaps run of results leading up to the two Cascadian rivals joining MLS from North Americas second tier. Equally amazing, the 4-3 loss at home was Portlands first in 23 games, a remarkable record stretching all the way back to March 9, 2013 when the Montreal Impact took all three points at the then Jeld-Wen Field. The win extended Vancouvers unbeaten run to six games, another first for the young MLS franchise. That may not pop off the page like a 22-game unbeaten run at home, but when you also include a road game at the Columbus Crew and home games with the LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders in that period, the achievement seems a bit more noteworthy. Two converted penalties was a Whitecaps first on the road. (They did score twice from the spot against Real Salt Lake at home, late in the 2011 season). While referee Kevin Stott put himself in terrific position to see both first-half incidents in Portland, its hard not think about the penalty gods who somehow erased a dubious decision from a week ago with the Whitecaps leading Seattle. Erik Hurtado scored his first ugly goal of the season. The Beaverton, Oregon boy came home to bury a psychologically punishing chance that completely changed the complexion at half-time. The predatory instinct of Vancouvers fifth-overall pick from 2013 was clearly on display after he forced a great save from Donovan Ricketts before bundling the ball home by anticipating a rebound.
Wholesale Rangers Jerseys. Its a difficult feat to score four goals in four-straight games, but Hurtado has done it four different ways and, for good measure, showed a different quality by beautifully setting up Kekuta Manneh leading to the second penalty. Goals at Philadelphia on Saturday and Montreal after the World Cup break would tie and then break the five-goals-in-five-MLS-games record held by Camilo over June and July of last year. But perhaps the most exciting “first” of all was the two goals and two assists from Whitecaps midfield maestro Pedro Morales, who, with each passing game, looks like an odds-on early season choice for MLS Newcomer of the Year. The Chilean conductor out “number 10d” last years recipient of that award, Diego Valeri, by quite some margin. His vision to pick out Hurtado on the first-half stoppage time 3-1 goal was incisive and impossible to defend. But his delay, recognition, and then exquisite ball to Jordan Harvey early in the second was even better and it proved to be the game winner. Morales is a bona fide superstar and one who seems to be relishing his role with the club. It looks likely that hell provide some more milestones before this season is done. The Whitecaps will now get a chance to cross another couple of “firsts” off their list - a first goal and victory at PPL Park in Philadelphia, where the Caps visit the Union this Saturday. Judging by their current form, and their ability to “feast on the East” that seems like a pretty safe bet. ' ' '