MINNEAPOLIS, April 26 (UPI) -- Clutch relief pitching from Tanner Scheppers and Joe Nathan Thursday allowed the Texas Rangers to escape with a 2-1 victory over Minnesota.
The Rangers won for the sixth time in seven games, getting 6 2/3 strong innings from rookie starter Nick Tepesch and an outstanding performance from the bullpen.
Tepesch (2-1), who left early in his previous start after taking a line drive on his right wrist, allowed a run on five hits.
Scheppers came on in the eighth and loaded the bases with one out, but he scrambled out of the inning when Josh Willingham grounded into a double play. Willingham delivered the only Minnesota run with a seventh-inning homer.
Nathan gave up a two-out single in the ninth, but then retired Ryan Doumit on a fly ball to center and collected his seventh save.
Nelson Cruz singled in the first Texas run in the second inning and Elvis Andrus doubled home another in the fifth.
Both runs were charged to Vance Worley (0-3), who gave up six hits over five innings.
