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ARLINGTON, Texas -- Max Kepler and the last-place Minnesota Twins are starting to have some fun.Theyre winning games, including three in a row against the American Leagues top team.Kepler drove in three runs with a homer and a short sacrifice fly, Tyler Duffey matched a career high with nine strikeouts and the Twins won 10-1 Thursday night in the opener of a four-game set at Texas after finishing their series at home last weekend with two straight over the Rangers.Its awesome. Its everything we ask for in a team, Kepler said. Everybodys picking each other up. No ones trying to do too much. Guys are getting on and keeping the line moving.The Twins (30-55) have won five of their last six overall.Minnesota led for good after Eduardo Nunez and Joe Mauer started the game with consecutive hits off Chi Chi Gonzalez (0-2) and both scored. Kurt Suzuki led off the second with his fifth homer, and it was 4-0 after Brian Dozier snapped an 0-for-13 slump with an RBI single later in the inning.That was a good win. It wasnt pretty early. We left men on base, but we were able to score a little bit, manager Paul Molitor said. Offensively, after four early, it didnt feel comfortable. I thought Maxs home run to extend that was good even though it was late. Then we were able to get the big inning.Keplers seventh homer of the season was a two-run shot that ignited a five-run eighth, putting the Twins up 9-0.Duffey (5-6) retired the last nine batters he faced. The right-hander limited Texas to two hits over six innings, but walked four and hit two batters.The Rangers didnt score until Rougned Odor had a one-out triple in the ninth, their first base runner since the fourth, and came home when Elvis Andrus singled.Keplers sac fly was a popup to shallow center field in the first caught by lunging shortstop Andrus. That sent Nunez home with the first run before Robbie Grossmans RBI single.Even with seven losses in nine games, the Rangers (53-34) still have the ALs best record and a 6 1/2-game lead over Houston in the AL West.For the first time in team history, Texas has gone six consecutive games without its starting pitcher finishing at least five innings.Gonzalez made it only 4 2/3 innings, throwing 124 pitches in the longest outing by a Rangers starter in that stretch that started when the young right-hander got only two outs at Minnesota last Saturday. He allowed nine hits and walked five.Bottom line, weve got to be better, we have to be better, manager Jeff Banister said. Weve been really good in some stretches, we talk about, it all starts with starting pitching. ... We cant continue to cover four or five innings in the bullpen every single night.STRANDED RUNNERSWhile Molitor wasnt sure if the Twins had scored 10 or 11 runs, he knew how many runners they left on base. I do know we left 15, he said. I always look at that.SHORT HOPSKepler has six homers in his last 17 games. ... Every Minnesota starter had a hit. The last Twin to get a hit was No. 9 batter Byron Buxton with an RBI single in the eighth. ... The Rangers failed to homer for the first time in 18 games. ... OF Jared Hoying pitched the ninth for Texas, giving up solo homer to pinch-hitter Kennys Vargas.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: Molitor said RHP Phil Hughes indicated in an e-mail Thursday that his surgery Wednesday went well. Hughes had a rib removed to help relieve thoracic outlet syndrome.Rangers: Yu Darvish threw a 32-pitch bullpen session. The Rangers will see how he feels Friday before determining if the right-hander will make his next rehab start Saturday or Sunday for Double-A Frisco. ... 1B Mitch Moreland was out of the starting lineup for the fifth consecutive day because of a mild strain in his right calf. He is expected to play Friday.UP NEXTTwins: RHP Kyle Gibson (2-5) goes for third consecutive victory. He has gone at least six innings in each of his last four starts, including last Sunday at home to beat Texas.Rangers: All-Star LHP Cole Hamels (9-2, 2.93 ERA) makes his second consecutive start against the Twins, who had five runs and 10 hits off him in four innings Sunday at Minnesota -- his shortest start since being acquired by the Rangers last July. He still has a chance to become the first Texas pitcher in four seasons to get 10 wins by the All-Star break.Vans Scarpe Online Saldi . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Vans Scarpe Italia . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. http://www.vansitalia.it/ . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Vans Scarpe Vendita Online . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. Vans Outlet Italia . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15.LOS ANGELES -- After an offseason cluttered by contract negotiations and surgery, Rickard Rakell returned to the Anaheim Ducks lineup just in time for a rivalry game.The Swedish forward hit the ice in full stride.Rakell had a goal and two assists in his season debut, and John Gibson stopped 30 shots to earn his seventh career shutout in the Ducks 4-0 victory over the Kings on Tuesday night.After he scored a career-high 43 points last season, Rakell missed training camp and the first nine regular-season games while holding out for a new contract and recovering from surgery related to appendicitis. Rakell agreed to a six-year, $22.8 million deal on Oct. 14 -- and a few days after securing his U.S. visa, he posted his first three-point game since Jan. 11, 2015.Im just trying to find the timing and everything, said Rakell, who scored more points than he managed in his first 10 games combined last season. I think I just was in the right place at the right time today. Of course, it gives you confidence to be able to build off this.Coach Randy Carlyle, who left the organization before Rakells rise, is counting on the wing to be a consistent scorer this season.You saw his hands and his vision tonight, Carlyle said. Were fortunate to have a player like that on our side.Antoine Vermette and Ryan Kesler scored power-play goals 31 seconds apart in the second period before Joseph Cramarossa scored his first NHL goal for the Ducks, who emphatically won the first Freeway Faceoff rivalry game of the season.Cramarossa scored on a wraparound that deflected off two Kings midway through the period. The 24-year-old former third-round pick got his first goal in his fifth NHL game.I got a lucky bounce there, but it feels good, Cramarossa said. I dont even know what I did after. I think I put my hands up? I saw it cross the line. It was just amazing. I wont forget today.Vermette and Kesler scored two points apiece, while Corey Perry added two assists for the Ducks, who have earned points in five of six after an 0--3-1 start.dddddddddddd.The Kings have been shut out in three straight games for the first time since 1968-69, their second NHL season. Los Angeles is on its second three-game skid of the season, with a four-game winning streak sandwiched between them.When asked how to turn around the losing streak, coach Darryl Sutter replied: Score a goal.Peter Budaj made 12 saves in his seventh straight start for Los Angeles before Jack Campbell replaced him in the third period.He wasnt very good, Sutter said of Budaj. I mean, did you look at the shots and scoring chances? He wasnt very good. Thats clear. I dont pull goalies very often, but theyre expected to make some saves.Anaheim went ahead late in the first period when Ryan Kesler won a faceoff to Rakell, who alertly shot the puck through the legs of two Kings.The Ducks added two more shortly after Jake Muzzin took a double minor for high-sticking. Vermette got his first goal for his new team on a setup from Rakell, and Kesler tipped home a pass from captain Ryan Getzlaf.The rivals had a prolonged brawl midway through the third after Getzlaf held the stick of Jordan Nolan, who responded with a punch. Three players from each team got major penalties for fighting.Game notesCampbell made five saves in his second career NHL appearance. He was the No. 11 pick in the 2010 draft by Dallas. ... Kings D Drew Doughty doesnt turn 27 until next month, but the Norris Trophy winner pulled even with Mark Hardy for the 10th-most games played in Los Angeles franchise history with his 616th appearance. ... Anaheim LW Nick Ritchie went to the dressing room in the second period after a big hit from Los Angeles D Tom Gilbert. Ritchie spent the third being evaluated for an undisclosed injury. Carlyle had no update of his condition.UP NEXTDucks: Host Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.Kings: Host the Penguins on Thursday night. ' ' '