first NHL game. Another assist went to Matt Hendricks, playin

MINNEAPOLIS -- It looks as if the Minnesota Twins are finally coming around at the plate.Max Kepler homered twice and set a Twins rookie record by driving in seven runs, helping Minnesota rout the Texas Rangers 17-5 on Saturday.The Twins entered the game having scored the fewest runs in the American League. But they hit six homers last Sunday in a win at Yankee Stadium, and then they averaged five runs in a three-game series at the White Sox.And Saturday was pretty nice, too.Eduardo Nunez had four hits for the Twins, who scored at least three runs in four of the first five innings. Keplers second home run of the day capped a six-run fifth inning and gave the Twins a 17-4 lead.We know the struggles offensively arent going to be all year long, Nunez said. It has to change at some point.Texas right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez (0-1) recorded just two outs in his second start of the season. Gonzalez walked two batters and gave up two hits in Minnesotas four-run first. He also was hurt by poor defense, with misplays on three consecutive batters extending the inning.Rangers manager Jeff Banister pulled him after 38 pitches.You get into a situation like that -- young kid, could have pushed him to one more hitter, Banister said. Wherever that takes him, hes out of that game anyway. Im going to protect him.Cesar Ramos replaced Gonzalez and was charged with seven runs in 2 1/3 innings as the Twins worked their way through the Texas bullpen. The Rangers finally turned to backup catcher Bryan Holaday for the last four outs.Tyler Duffey (4-6) was the beneficiary of the outburst, pitching six innings for his second straight win. He gave up four runs and eight hits, including long home runs by Ryan Rua and Robinson Chirinos in the fourth inning.Minnesota slugger Miguel Sano launched a two-run drive into the second deck in left field in the second inning. His 12th homer of the season was his first since returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined him throughout June.Sano was one of three players who shared the previous team rookie record with six RBI. And apparently he wasnt eager to yield the title to Kepler.Sano was telling me during the game that he had eight, so I was a little bummed out about that, Kepler said. But everybody on the bench was like, `No he didnt.Im honored today to even have achieved something like that, Kepler added. But lets keep it going.SAN DIEGO BOUND?Nunez is making a strong argument for an invitation to his first All-Star Game. He led off the first and second with doubles, hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning and singled in the fifth and sixth. He is hitting a team-high .322 with 11 homers, 34 RBI, 42 runs scored and 18 stolen bases.But the seven-year veteran isnt letting the upcoming All-Star announcements distract him.I dont want to put anything in my mind yet, Nunez said. I have no control over that. The only control I have is to play well and do my thing and help the team to win.ROUGH STARTThe Rangers had a rocky first inning with fielding gaffes on three straight plays that led to four runs. With two on and one out, Gonzalez snagged Brian Doziers comebacker, but Rougned Odor dropped the throw to second base, erasing the chance for an inning-ending double play. Kepler then grounded softly to first baseman Mitch Moreland, who threw home too late to force Nunez.Finally, Eduardo Escobar hit a potential double-play grounder, but shortstop Elvis Andrus dropped Odors feed. He recovered in time to retire Kepler, but that opened the door for Juan Centenos two-run single.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: RHP Trevor May (back) pitched a scoreless inning for Triple-A Rochester in his injury rehab assignment on Friday. General manager Terry Ryan said that May would pitch again on Saturday night, his first time pitching on consecutive days since he was put on the DL on June 10. Ryan said May is relatively close to returning to the Twins 25-man roster. . SS Escobar left with a strained left hamstring. He is day to dayUP NEXTRangers LHP Cole Hamels has won four straight starts, giving up just two earned runs in 27 2/3 innings. Hell look to extend that streak on Sunday against Minnesotas Kyle Gibson, who earned his first win of the season on Tuesday. Gibson pitched seven innings in a 4-0 win over the White Sox. Cheap Air Jordan Free Shipping . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Cheap Air Jordan Outlet Store . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.airjordanoutletsale.com/ . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. Discount Jordans . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Air Jordan Clearance . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. DALLAS -- Connor McDavid, among the leagues most electrifying young stars, got his first career hat trick behind a few fortunate breaks Saturday night.McDavid scored once off a defenders stick and put back two other juicy rebounds, and his three goals helped the Edmonton Oilers beat the Dallas Stars 5-2 to end a five-game skid.McDavid, the first overall pick in the 2015 draft, ended a 10-game stretch without a goal.On the first, Dallas defenseman John Klingberg knocked the puck into his own net with his stick. The second came on a rebound from short range with goalie Kari Lehtonen out of the play, and the third was on a rebound with a wide-open net.Three pretty lucky goals, the 19-year-old McDavid said. Its a funny league that way. You get grade-A chances and theyre not going in, then you start putting it there and they are going in. Its weird that way. Definitely happy to get off that slump.McDavid is now tied for the NHL scoring lead at 22 points with Winnipegs Mark Scheifele and Tampa Bays Nikita Kucherov. Dallas coach Lindy Ruff didnt like having him break out against his team.The shot that went in got him going early, Ruff said. Thats not the type of guy that you want to get going.Tyler Pitlick got his sixth goal of the season for Edmonton, and Oscar Klefbom also scored. Cam Talbot made 31 saves.The Oilers led 4-0 early in the second period when Ruff swapped out Lehtonen for Antti Niemi.Patrick Eaves and Jamie Benn scored for Dallas during a 4-minute power play late in the second. Eaves scored in his fifth straight game, the longest streak of his 12-year career.McDavid, named the NHLs youngest ever captain prior to this season, has eight goals after getting one in each period of this one.dddddddddddd Its his second multigoal game this season and fifth in 64 career games.He finished the hat trick midway through the third period by scooping up a rebound in the left circle and flicking it past a sprawled Niemi.Anton Slepyshev and Jesse Puljujarvi each had two assists for Edmonton.Pitlick scored with 8:24 left in the first on a 2-on-1 break, connecting off a pass from Drake Caggiula, who played his first NHL game. Another assist went to Matt Hendricks, playing for the first time since getting a lower-body injury in the preseason.Edmonton got goals 56 seconds apart in the second to make it 4-0. Klefboms drive from the left point went in off defenseman Patrick Nemeths skate at 5:21, and McDavid found himself alone with the puck to the right of the net at 6:17.Eaves scored unassisted with 4:23 left when his wrist shot went in off a goalpost. About a minute later, Benn tipped in Klingbergs drive from the top of the slot.Lehtonen made nine saves, and Niemi had 15.Game notes Dallas LW Patrick Sharp returned after missing 14 games because of concussion-like symptoms. ... Edmonton RW Zack Kassian, who drew the double minor in the second period, was playing in his 250th game. ... Benn has 10 points (five goals, five assists) in his last nine games against the Oilers. Jason Spezza, who assisted on Benns goal, has 22 points (seven goals, fifteen assists) in 20 career games vs. Edmonton.UP NEXTOilers: Return home to play Chicago on Monday night.Stars: Host Minnesota on Monday night to end a four-game homestand. ' ' '