Twins’ Shave Nicks Rangers

Rookie Jon Shave had three hits, including his first major league home run, and Minnesota scored eight runs in the third inning of a 9-3 victory over Texas on Monday night.

Shave’s three-run home run highlighted the big inning by the Twins, who sent 11 batters to the plate against Darren Oliver (2-5).

Ron Coomer had a two-run single, Paul Molitor had a run-scoring double, and Pat Meares and Denny Hocking each had run-scoring singles as the Twins matched their club record for the most runs in the third inning.

Mike Morgan (2-1) took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning before getting chased by Fernando Tatis’ one-out RBI double. Reliever Hector Carrasco then gave up a two-run single to Mark McLemore.

Morgan, who retired the first 11 Texas batters before Rusty Greer singled in the fourth, gave up five hits and three runs, struck out three and walked none.

After Oliver gave up a run-scoring single to Molitor with two out in the fourth to make the score 9-0, Al Levine came in to get the final out.

Oliver gave up nine hits and nine runs over 3 2/3 innings, the third time he’s lasted less than four innings in his 10 starts.