Quinndary Weatherspoon was averaging 18.8 points. He suffered a wrist i

It has been a long time since the Texas Rangers endured a three-game losing streak, something they will try to avoid Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against the Twins in Minnesota.In fact, before losing their past two games, Texas (51-29) hadnt dropped back-to-back games since their past three-game skid, a May 16-18 three-game sweep at Oakland.The Rangers fell to the New York Yankees on Wednesday and Thursday to split a four-game set. On Thursday, Texas lost in a particularly painful fashion: on a passed ball.Chase Headley scampered home after a 1-1 pitch with two outs in the ninth skated under catcher Robinson Chirinos glove to the backstop, giving the Yankees a 2-1 walk-off win. Shin-Soo Choos leadoff homer to open the game provided the Rangers with their only run.The Rangers are no strangers to walk-off losses -- they have a league-leading nine this season.On the whole, things are looking up for Texas. The Rangers have an 8 1/2 game lead atop the American League West after going 20-7 in June, one win shy of matching a single-month franchise record, and their 51 wins are tied for the most in the majors with the Chicago Cubs.The same cant be said for Minnesota, which also enters the series on a two-game skid -- but the Twins problems go much deeper.Minnesota (25-53) dropped two of three against the Chicago White Sox, including a 6-5 setback Thursday. The league-worst Twins went 10-17 in June and have settled comfortably into last place in the American League Central.Were giving up too many runs early in the ballgame, Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier said. Were still making some mistakes on the bases that (go) unseen but that (would) create more runs to get over the hump.A pair of hot pitchers will toe the rubber Friday as Rangers left-hander Martin Perez (7-4, 3.44 ERA) opposes Twins righty Ervin Santana (2-7, 4.64 ERA).Perez has won six consecutive decisions, matching his career-best stretch from 2013. He has a 3.40 ERA in his past seven starts.Last time out, Perez held a powerful Boston Red Sox offense to one run on six hits and two walks over six innings in a 6-2 victory.Just keep going and continue to do my job, Perez told MLB.com. I dont want to stop. I just want to win and help the team.Perez has faced the Twins only once in his career, surrendering four runs over six innings in a 5-1 loss on July 6, 2012. Joe Mauer is 1-for-2 with two RBI against Perez, although he has hit .234 against the Rangers in his career -- his second-lowest mark against an AL opponent.Santana has allowed just three earned runs in his past two starts, including a five-inning no-decision against the Yankees last Saturday in which he allowed a run on six hits.However, the former Los Angeles Angels pitcher hasnt had much career success against Texas, going 13-11 with a 5.67 ERA in 30 starts against the Rangers.Adrian Beltre (.250, 15-for-60) has hammered Santana, smashing five home runs and driving in 15 runs against him. Prince Fielder (.389, 7-for-18) has hit three homers off Perez, and both he and Mitch Moreland (.320, 8-for-25) have driven in seven runs against him.Fake China Jerseys . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. 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According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph.STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Quinndary Weatherspoon scored 21 points and Mississippi State used a big first half to beat Oregon State 74-57 on Thursday night.Weatherspoon had missed the previous two games because of what was thought to be a season-ending left wrist injury. The sophomore guard was 6 of 7 from the field and 4 of 5 on 3-pointers and had four steals.I am just so happy about our effort and to see how happy our guys were playing tonight, said Mississippi State head coach Ben Howland. It was great just having Q (Weatherspoon) back on the floor but then to have him play so good was great for us in the first half. His defensive pressure was so intense and he is the ultimate team guy.Last week Mississippi State officials announced that Weatherspoon had suffered a season-ending injury with a torn ligament in his left wrist.About a week ago I started feeling better and it got better by the day, said Weatherspoon. I started dribbling and shooting and it feels good now. I didnt feel much pain and it is back to normal. It felt good tonight.Mario Kegler added 12 points for Mississippi State (5-2) while Lamar Peters and Eli Wright scored 10 apiece.Stephen Thompson Jr. scored 20 points for Oregon State (3-5), Jaquori McLaughlin had 12 and Cheikh NDiaye added 10.Mississippi State jumped to a 13-3 lead behind a pair of 3-pointers by Weatherspoon and hit 7 of 9 from beyond the arc and 58.3 percent from the floor for a 45-19 halftime leadd.ddddddddddddOregon State shot just 33 percent in the first half and had 12 turnovers.I was unbelievably fired up about our first half and how we played so hard, said Howland. Our doubling in the post was so much better than our previous games. And our ball pressure was so good. Coming in, we saw that Oregon State had a lot of turnovers. So that was something we tried to focus on. Everybody was swarming to the ball and it sped them up.Mississippi State finished shooting 50 percent from the field and made 11 of 19 3-pointers. The Bulldogs held a 29-24 rebounding advantage Aric Holman grabbing seven boards.BIG PICTUREMississippi State: Before missing the previous two games, Quinndary Weatherspoon was averaging 18.8 points. He suffered a wrist injury and was originally diagnosed to be out for the season. He scored 21 points Thursday in his return to action for the Bulldogs.Oregon State: Sophomore guard Stephen Thompson Jr. returned to the Beavers starting lineup Thursday against the Bulldogs. He started in the Beavers opener before missing the next six games with an injured left foot.UP NEXTMississippi State: The Bulldogs close out their three-game home stand this week on Sunday and play host to Georgia State.Oregon State: The Beavers wrap up a two-game road trip on Saturday with a trip to Charlotte. ' ' '