Injury-plagued Twins score a hitless run in the ninth inning to beat Rangers

The problem was that Cody Bradford was practically Ober's equal. He allowed one fewer hit in his own six-inning start, but made a couple of mistakes that cost him the win. The first was a 1-1 curveball to Castro in the second inning, a pitch that the shortstop threw just inches over the left-center fence.

Then came Farmer and the most unusual play of the night. The veteran infielder also got a curveball from Bradford and hit it in the same direction as Castro, albeit 10 feet shorter. The ball bounced off the underside of the fence, where it was headed toward the bullpens, and the rebound sent it bouncing along the warning track toward center field.

Taveras was surprised by the sudden change in direction and was unable to stop the ball as it rolled past him. Farmer saw the ball rolling freely and accelerated as he reached second base. The Rangers center fielder caught up with the ball, but his attempt to catch it missed and it continued to roll for another 10-15 feet.

Farmer didn't notice this play error and ruled it an error on Taveras, but saw third base coach Tommy Watkins suddenly move his right arm back and forth, sending him home. The Rangers continued to throw the ball toward the plate, but Farmer slid headfirst and touched them before the ball could arrive.

It was a thrilling tie, and the Twins looked energized for the moment. But they couldn't score another run in that inning, and couldn't get another runner to third base in the next six innings, even after Carlos Santana stole his 17th consecutive base without being thrown out, a streak that stretches back more than six seasons.

But that changed in the ninth.