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Twins' Bartolo Colón, 44, Pitches 1st Complete Game In 2 Years

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Bartolo Colón threw his first complete game in two years to earn his first win with Minnesota, Brian Dozier homered twice and the Twins beat the Texas Rangers 8-4 on Friday night.

Robbie Grossman homered and had three RBIs for the Twins, who won for just the third time in 11 games.

In his fourth start for Minnesota, the 44-year-old Colon (3-9) scattered nine hits and allowed four earned runs for his 37th career complete game and first since Sept. 5, 2015 with the New York Mets. He struck out five and walked one for his first win in nine starts since May 15 with Atlanta.

Only three times did Colon have to face five hitters in an inning, including the first when Adrian Beltre had a two-run single.

Elvis Andrus had three doubles and Carlos Gomez homered for the Rangers.

Bartolo Colón Pitches Complete Game
Bartolo Colón pitches a complete game at the age of 44 (credit: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Texas starter Martin Perez (5-10) allowed seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, dropping to 0-4 with a 9.41 ERA in his last four starts.

Since coming off the disabled list July 3, Perez has a 7.27 ERA and one win in six starts.

He allowed five earned runs before Texas recorded four outs, but settled in to retire nine straight batters before Joe Mauer was hit by a pitch in the fifth.

Needing 40 pitches to get through the opening inning, Perez allowed five hits, including home runs by Dozier and Grossman, and walked two. A double play with the bases loaded ended the inning.

Dozier, who homered on the first pitch of the second inning for a 5-2 lead, finished with three hits after going 5 for 37 in his previous eight games.

A two-run single by Eddie Rosario made it 7-3 in the fifth, ending Perez's night.

DOZIER'S DINGERS

This was the seventh career multi-homer game for Dozier and second of the season. He also did it May 2 against Oakland. His leadoff home run in the first inning was his fifth this year and 24th of his career.

TRAINERS ROOM

Rangers: RHP Tyson Ross, on the 10-day disabled list since July 24 with a blister on his right index finger, is scheduled to make his second rehab start Saturday with Double-A Frisco.

Twins: 3B Miguel Sano left the game in the sixth inning with a left hand contusion after being hit by a pitch. X-rays were negative and the team's home run leader with 25 is day to day. . LHP Hector Santiago was in the clubhouse after throwing 92 pitches in his third rehab start for Triple-A Rochester on Thursday.

He's been on the disabled list since July 3 with an upper back strain. Manager Paul Molitor said Santiago's next step is uncertain.
UP NEXT

Rangers: LHP Cole Hamels (5-1. 4.01) has allowed 14 earned runs in 17.1 innings over his last three starts, but allowed just three in six innings Monday against Seattle. He also struck out a season-high seven.

Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (6-8, 6.08) returns from Triple-A Rochester to start Saturday. Sent down July 25, he allowed one hit in five shutout innings in his lone start with the Red Wings July 27. The Twins are expected to make a roster move after Friday's game for Gibson's return.

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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