MINNEAPOLIS -- The Rangers defense let them down in the first inning, setting the tone for their worst game of the season.Chi Chi Gonzalez recorded just two outs in his second start of the season, and Texas lost 17-5 to the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.Ryan Rua and Robinson Chirinos homered for the AL-leading Rangers, who had won five of seven. Rua and Chirinos each had two hits and two RBI.Max Kepler homered twice and set a Twins rookie record by driving in seven runs. Eduardo Nunez had four hits for Minnesota, which scored at least three runs in four of the first five innings.Gonzalez (0-1) walked two batters and gave up two hits in Minnesotas four-run first. He was hurt by poor defense, with misplays on three consecutive batters extending the inning.With two on and one out, Gonzalez snagged Brian Doziers comebacker, but Rougned Odor dropped the throw to second base, erasing a 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.Rangers manager Jeff Banister pulled Gonzalez 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.Super frustrating, Gonzalez said. I felt good going into the game. I had my confidence up. Tough one to swallow.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.NEW BULLPEN ACE?Holaday entered with two out in the seventh inning and needed only 18 pitches to get the final four outs. He used a hybrid, as he put it, to retire all four batters on lazy fly balls to the outfield.I mess around pretty much every day, he said of his preparation for pitching. Obviously no one wants that, but when you play 162 games its going to happen. Im just glad I could help out and save some arms.Holaday said he had pitched once in Triple-A, retiring both batters he faced.Hopefully I dont get overexposed, he deadpanned.INTERNATIONAL SIGNINGSSaturday was the first day of the 2016 MLB international signing period. The Rangers announced deals with six players, including four from Venezuela -- outfielder Angel Aponte, catcher David Garcia, infielder Emir Velasquez and shortstop Jember Gutierrez. They also signed outfielder Daniel Quiceno from Colombia and outfielder Danny Drullard from the Dominican Republic.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 day.UP 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. Discount Jets Jerseys . 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FRISCO, Texas -- Dak Prescotts interaction with his new backup wasnt much different after Tony Romos heartfelt speech that conceded the Cowboys starting job to the rookie quarterback.Dallas coach Jason Garrett talked matter-of-factly to the 36-year-old about being No. 2 for the first time since Garrett joined the staff in 2007. And tight end Jason Witten, Romos best friend on the team, wasnt sure what to make of all the fuss.While the outside world spent two days pondering Romos retirement or relocation -- sometimes both -- the Cowboys had another couple of workdays in a regular week.I think that was more for yall than for me or for this team, Prescott said Wednesday , a day after Romo said the 23-year-old had earned the right to keep the job that Romo took from Drew Bledsoe in the middle of the 2006 season.We know each other, how we feel about the situation. Hes been a great leader, a great model for me to look up to and watch every day. So Im not surprised.Prescott will start Sunday against Baltimore (5-4) looking for a franchise season-best ninth straight win, a run that has carried the Cowboys (8-1) to the best record in the NFL.Romo, whose back injury in a preseason game created the opening for Prescott, is expected to be his backup for the first time in the four-time Pro Bowlers first game on the active roster since last Thanksgiving.A surprising success as a fourth-round pick that started training camp as a third-stringer, Prescott frequently said early in the winning streak that he was piloting Romos team. He cant do that anymore since Romo himself has said otherwise. But Prescott still wont call it his team.This is our team, said Prescott, who is fourth in the NFL in passer rating with 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions. I said that two minutes ago and Ill say it again. Everybody plays a part in our success in whats happened and theyll play a part in the adversity that comes.Garrett, a backup to Troy Aikman when the Cowboys were winning Super Bowls in the 1990s, was the new offensive ccoordinator in Romos first full season as the starter before replacing fired coach Wade Phillips three years later, in the middle of the 2010 season.dddddddddddd.They have been seen together frequently at sporting events in the offseason, but Garrett had little interest in discussing the impact of Romos words.Our focus is getting ready to play the Ravens, Garrett said. Tony is a professional. Hes done an outstanding job preparing himself for whatever role hes been in since Ive been here and thats what the expectation is. Hes going to embrace it fully.Witten was a third-round pick in 2003, the same year Romo signed as an undrafted free agent. He said he was in the weight room when he found out Romo was addressing reporters , and Witten finally let his exasperation show when someone offered the what if of Romo having taken his last snap with the Cowboys.Cmon guys, Witten said. I mean, he embodies everything you want. He said it. Lets move forward with the football team. I dont think thats entered my mind and it hasnt entered anybodys mind.The 34-year-old Witten was mindful of the difficulty Romo faced in making the speech. And while he and Romo share the reality that their careers are winding down, Witten also has become a valuable target for Prescott. Two weeks ago, he had his first 100-yard game in three years.Weve been together a long time and Tonys been hurt before, Witten said. Things come up, so I think you just encourage him and hes always felt like a key part of this team.Game notes TE Geoff Swaim was placed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury, ending his season. WR Vince Mayle was elevated from the practice squad and is expected to be used as a tight end. The Cowboys signed G Clay DeBord to the practice squad.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '