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Minnesota 9, Texas 8

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla., March 27 (UPI) -- Chan Ho Park, who is slated to start for the Rangers on Opening Day, left in the third inning with a mildly strained left hamstring Wednesday in a 9-8 loss to the Minnesota Twins.

With one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball, the Rangers signed Park to a five-year, $65 million contract in the offseason. He already has been tabbed to start the Rangers' opener at Oakland in five days.

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Before leaving, Park surrendered three runs and three hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Joe Dillon delivered an RBI triple in the ninth for the Twins, who scored twice in the inning to snap a 7-7 tie.

Matt LeCroy knocked in three runs and Doug Mienkiewicz went three for three with a pair of RBI for the Twins.

Alex Rodriguez belted a two-run homer and highly touted rookie Hank Blalock a solo shot for Texas, which hit five homers.

Twins starter Matt Kinney was roughed up for six runs and eight hits in four innings.

The Rangers played their last home exhibition game in Florida. The team will move to Arizona next year.

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