ARLINGTON, Texas — Minnesota’s Brian Duensing was coming off one of his worst outings of the season, and facing a Texas lineup that had already scored 28 runs in the first two games of the series.

Except, Duensing had an apparent advantage being a left-hander.

Duensing allowed only one run over 6 2-3 innings, Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer homered and the Twins beat the AL West-leading Rangers 7-2 on Wednesday night.

“Joe and I had a real good approach. We tried to keep ‘em off-balance by going in hard and try to open up the outside corner,” Duensing said. “My two-seamer was sinking pretty good. I established the fastball early, then used the changeup to keep them off balance.”

In his previous start, Friday against Detroit, Duensing matched a season-high allowing seven runs to end his personal three-game winning streak. But he held the Rangers in check, with six strikeouts and a walk while scattering seven hits.