MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ― Eduardo Nunez’s two-out single for Minnesota had just tied the game, and the ninth inning was about to end on a routine ground ball.

What happened next was anything but by the book.

Texas closer Joakim Soria bobbled a slow-bouncing dribbler by Danny Santana to the left of the mound, allowing Nunez to score the winning run for the Twins in a 4-3 victory over the Rangers on Tuesday night.

“I’m the guy getting comfortable on this team. I’m the new guy here. I try to help the team to win, and I did it,” said Nunez, who celebrated his clutch hit that drove in Oswaldo Arcia with a double-arm raise after arriving at second when the throw home from right fielder Alex Rios was up the line.

Nunez said he took the extra base to give Arcia, whom he aptly described as “not fast,” a better chance to score in case the throw was cut off. Then came a grounder to third, where Nunez stopped short as Adrian Beltre fielded the ball.

Nunez scooted right and circled around to the back of the bag to bring the safe call from umpire Mike DiMuro. The Rangers argued Nunez should have been out for going more than 3 feet out of the baseline. Speaking to a pool reporter afterward, crew chief Jerry Layne said Nunez was not guilty because Beltre never attempted to tag Nunez until the scramble began.

“If he would have stuck his glove out to try to make an attempt, we have a different play,” Layne said. “Ninety-nine percent of the time, they attempt to make a tag. He never made an attempt.”

Beltre was still angry afterward.

“Last year I ran out to left field in Houston and they called me out. Nobody tagged me. So this guy is safe? I just don’t know where the line is,” Beltre said.

Both Beltre and manager Ron Washington acknowledged the right play was for Beltre to throw to first for the sure out.


Ethier, Dodgers beat Reds 6-3

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Andre Ethier drove in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ first four runs with a homer and a bases-loaded triple, and Zack Greinke tied a season high with 11 strikeouts in a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

Greinke (8-1) allowed three runs, eight hits and no walks in 7 2/3 innings. The 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner was lifted after giving up a two-run homer by Devin Mesoraco on his 104th pitch ― ending Greinke’s streak of 22 consecutive starts in which he had allowed fewer than three earned runs. It was the longest such streak since the dead-ball era. Kenley Jansen followed J.P. Howell out of the bullpen and pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save.

Alfredo Simon (6-3) threw 70 pitches in 3 2/3 innings, giving up five runs, five hits and four walks.

Boston 6, Atlanta 3

Colorado 6, Philadelphia 2

Toronto 9, Tampa Bay 6

NY Mets 4, Pittsburgh 2

Houston 3, Kansas City 0

Milwaukee 7, Baltimore 6

St. Louis 6, NY Yankees 0

San Diego 4, Arizona 3

San Francisco 4, Chicago Cubs 0

LA Angels 6, Seattle 4

Chicago White Sox 2, Cleveland 1

Detroit 6, Oakland 5

Miami at Washington ppd.