Emergency starter Fox impressive in debut as short-handed Twins beat Rangers 4-3

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Fox picks up short-handed Twins in 4-3 win

MINNEAPOLIS — Denard Span delivered the go-ahead single in the seventh inning, emergency starter Matt Fox pitched 5 2-3 innings in his major league debut, and the depleted Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers 4-3 on Friday night.

Fox allowed two runs and four hits, giving the Twins’ staff a major boost after scheduled starter Nick Blackburn was forced to pitch in Thursday’s 13-inning loss to Detroit.

Alex Burnett (2-2 ), who arrived with Fox from Triple-A earlier Friday, allowed a run in 1 1-3 innings. Matt Capps recorded five outs for his eighth save with the Twins and 34th overall.

With one out and runners on first and third in the eighth, Capps struck out Nelson Cruz and got Ian Kinsler to ground out.

Josh Hamilton singled with one out in the eighth, and then left the game with lower back stiffness. Hamilton had missed the Rangers last two games with a sore knee.

The Rangers went ahead in the seventh when Kinsler scored on Julio Borbon’s squeeze bunt. Rangers starter Derek Holland (2-3) was unable to hold the lead.

J.J. Hardy tied it with an RBI single off reliever Alexi Ogando. Span put the Twins ahead when his single off Matt Harrison scored Jason Repko.

The Twins were scrambling to find enough arms just to get through the game against a solid Texas lineup. Besides Blackburn, starter Brian Duensing was also used on Thursday. Relievers Jeff Manship, Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier have been used extensively the past few days and were not available.

Fox’s debut was more impressive considering it came on a night when 34 of the Twins all-time greats were in attendance.

The game started a half hour later than usual so the Twins could honor the 50 greatest players in team history during a pregame ceremony. Twins legends such as Harmon Killabrew, Kent Hrbek and Tony Oliva were introduced and gathered around home plate as video tributes played on the big screen and fans cheered.

Hot-hitting Twins rookie Danny Valencia had two hits, but left the game in the seventh with a tight hamstring.

Notes: Cliff Lee returned to the Rangers after flying to Dallas on Wednesday to receive a cortisone shot in his aching back. Lee will throw a bullpen session on Saturday, after which the team will determine if he will make his next scheduled start on Tuesday. … Twins starter Scott Baker received a cortisone shot after leaving Thursday’s start after two innings. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Baker will likely miss his next two starts. … An MRI and X-ray on Twins’ OF Jason Kubel’s left wrist revealed no significant damage. Kubel has missed the last three games, but hopes to return to the lineup on Sunday.