(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers try and maintain their advantage atop the American League Wild Card race this evening when they continue their four-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Rangers Ballpark.

Texas moved a full game up on idle Boston in the wild card race in the opener of this set on Monday, as Marlon Byrd finished 2-for-4 with three runs batted in, helping the Rangers to an 8-5 win.

Michael Young, Kevin Richardson -- who was making his MLB debut -- and Josh Hamilton also had two hits apiece for Texas, which kept pace in the AL West. The division-leading Angels defeated Baltimore earlier Monday, but couldn't pick up any extra ground as the Rangers remained 4 1/2 games behind.

The Rangers are 17 games over .500 for the first time since September 26, 2004.

Tommy Hunter (6-2) got the start and the win for the Rangers, as he gave up four runs in 5 2/3 frames. Texas backed its starter early, scoring seven runs in the first two innings off Francisco Liriano (5-12), who took the loss and was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with left arm fatigue.

"We need pitching. We need people that can throw right now," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "We went through our bullpen. That's the second day in a row of going through just about everybody."

The Twins have now dropped three consecutive games, and in addition to the setback saw first baseman Justin Morneau leave in the fourth inning because of dizziness. The team said he was removed for precautionary reasons.

Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer went 3-for-5 with a homer, raising his average to .380.

Heading to the hill for the Rangers tonight will be righty Scott Feldman, who has won his last three starts. Feldman improved to 12-4 on Thursday in Cleveland, as he held the Indians to a run and seven hits in six innings, dropping his earned run average on the year to 3.90.

One of Feldman's four losses this season came at the hands of the Twins, who hit him for three runs and five hits in six innings back on July 18. He is 0-1 in eight games (two starts) against them with a 5.91 ERA.

Minnesota, meanwhile, will counter with right-handed veteran Carl Pavano, who is 1-1 in his two starts with the Twins since being acquired from Cleveland. After tossing seven scoreless innings in his Twins' debut, Pavano was charged with the loss on Thursday against Kansas City, as he surrendered five runs and five hits in seven frames, dropping him to 10-9 overall on the year to go along with a 5.16 ERA.

Pavano endured one of the worst losses of his career earlier in the year to the Rangers, who pounded him for nine runs and six hits in just an inning of work back on April 9.

Minnesota has split its four meetings with the Rangers this season after splitting the 10-game season series a year ago.



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