MINNEAPOLIS -- After a rough first two innings, Nick Tepesch settled down and cruised through another quality outing to help the Texas Rangers stay hot. Thomas Welsh Nuggets Jersey . Tepesch won his second consecutive start, Elvis Andrus and Chris Gimenez each had two RBIs, and the Rangers beat the Minnesota Twins 7-2 on Monday afternoon. Tepesch (2-0) gave up both his runs in the first two innings before lasting 6 2-3. He struck out four to win consecutive starts for the first time in his career. "Thats one of the things that made me successful today, to be able to put the first two innings behind me," Tepesch said. "Treat each inning as a new inning." Alex Rios added two more hits and now has six straight multi-hit games. The Rangers have won three straight and five of six after a rough start to the season. "Early in the season everything didnt go the way we wanted it to," Andrus said. "At the same time, we still trust in each other and we knew theres a lot of baseball left. Everyone is feeling well right now as a team." Trevor Plouffe homered and Eduardo Escobar had two hits and an RBI for the Twins, who have lost four in a row since climbing two games over .500 on May 21. After Kevin Correia (2-6) set down nine straight, Roughned Odor and Shin-Soo Choo lined back-to-back two-out singles in the fifth. Andrus followed with a double to the gap in left-centre that scored both runners and broke a 2-all tie. "Its two-out hits. Thats been the theme this season," Correia said. "That one pitch or two pitches a game, you make that one pitch and its a world of difference." Gimenez made it 6-2 with a two-run double down the line in left in the eighth off reliever Jared Burton and Texas was on its way to another win. "We just got off to a bad start," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "Im so happy that were finally putting it together as a group." Minnesota had its opening day outfield back together for the first time since the first week of the season. Josh Willingham and Oswaldo Arcia were activated from the disabled list after Sundays game and started alongside centre-fielder Aaron Hicks. But the re-enforcements werent enough to overcome Tepesch, who didnt allow a runner past second base after the second inning. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire knows it might take a few more at-bats before Willingham and Arcia are able to help lift Minnesotas struggling offence. "That can be a huge part of it, driving the baseball and let them get a few at-bats here," Gardenhire said. "It takes a little time, a little different pitching up here than down there." Tepesch dominated Triple-A Round Rock after getting demoted in spring training and has a 2.95 ERA in three big-league starts since being recalled May 14. "Hes shown these three starts what hes capable of doing," Washington said. "But you cant hang your hat on a couple of outings. If hes around here healthy, hes going to get many outings. I just want him to be consistent." Hicks, a career switch-hitter, informed manager Ron Gardenhire before the game that he has decided to only hit from the right side. The struggling prospect is hitting .250 right-handed compared to .149 from the left side. He had two singles Monday. Two replay reviews went against the Twins. Arcia slided into third after a botched play in the outfield in the first, but a review showed third-baseman Adrian Beltre tagging him before his foot reached the base. Gardenhire challenged an out call at first on Willinghams dribbler down the line in the sixth, but the call stood. NOTES: Hicks told Gardenhire before the game he had no confidence swinging from the left side. "He came to me this morning and said he wants to hit right-handed. So, obviously, when a guy has no confidence left-handed, you gotta do what you gotta do," Gardenhire said. ... This was Ron Washingtons 1,186th game as Rangers manager, tied with Bobby Valentine for most in franchise history. ... Texas P Tanner Scheppers, out since April 18 with elbow inflammation, had his first rehab outing on Saturday with Double-A Frisco and will make three more with Triple-A Round Rock before being eligible to return on June 3. ... Choo hopes to return to left field on Tuesday after DHing the last two games with a sore left ankle. ... Phil Hughes (5-1, 3.15 ERA) will try for his fifth consecutive win on Tuesday against the Rangers Yu Darvish (4-2, 2.35). Alex English Nuggets Jersey . Saskatchewans Darian Durant is expected to miss the rest of the Roughriders season with a torn tendon in his right elbow. The 32-year-old, who will undergo surgery in the next couple days to repair the injury, was added to the teams six-game injury list Tuesday. Thomas Welsh Jersey . Bostons bats exploded in Mondays opener, as David Ortiz belted a pair of two-run homers, Stephen Drew homered and drove in four runs and the Red Sox pummeled the Blue Jays, 14-1. http://www.authenticnuggetsproshop.com/Tyler-Lydon-Jersey/ . The Earthquakes (6-9-7) were coming off a 5-0 loss at home last Saturday to FC Dallas. Even with the draw, the Sounders (13-7-3) climbed back into a tie for both the Western Conference and overall top spot in MLS. Seattle, West co-leader Real Salt Lake and East leader Sporting Kansas City all have 42 points.CONROE, Texas - Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson avoided jail Tuesday by reaching a deal with Texas prosecutors to resolve a child abuse case that revived a national debate about corporal punishment.Peterson was sentenced to a form of probation after pleading no contest to a misdemeanour charge of reckless assault for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. It was not immediately clear how the plea deal would affect his playing status or whether he might be subject to a new NFL policy that calls for a six-game suspension without pay for a first domestic violence offence.The All-Pro running back was indicted in September on a felony charge of injury to a child after the incident earlier this year in suburban Houston. He has been on paid leave under a special exemption from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.I stand here and I take full responsibility for my actions. I love my son more than anyone of you could even imagine and Im anxious to continue my relationship with my child, Peterson said outside the courthouse after accepting the plea deal.Im just glad this is over, he added. I can put this behind me, and me and my family can continue to move forward.He was not allowed to be near his son while the case was pending, but now can resume having contact with the boy.Adrian wants to get on with his life and have his relationship with his son and get back to playing football, Petersons attorney, Rusty Hardin, said.NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league cannot provide a timetable for that.We will review the matter, including the court record, and then make a determination on his status, McCarthy said.Peterson is one of a handful of NFL players who have been involved in domestic violence cases lately, including Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer and, most infamously, former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice.After receiving plenty of criticism for initially handing Rice only a two-game suspension, Goodell announced in August that he was toughening the leagues punishments for domestic violence.Attention to the issue rose considerably in September, when a video surfaced showing Rice knocking out his then-fiancee — and now wife — in a casino elevator; he soon was cut by the Ravens and indefinitely barred by the league.Peterson has said he never intended to harm his son and was disciplining him in the same way he had been as a child growingg up in East Texas. Dikembe Mutombo Jersey. The boy suffered cuts, marks and bruising to his thighs, back and one of his testicles, according to court records.Peterson had tentatively been set to go on trial Dec. 1. If he had been convicted of the felony charge, he could have faced up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Instead, he received two years of deferred adjudication, a form of probation. He was fined $4,000 and must complete parenting classes and perform 80 hours of community service.His no contest plea wasnt an admission of guilt but was treated as such for sentencing.Peterson will have no travel restrictions. If he completes his probation without incident, the misdemeanour charge will be removed from his record.Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon said he believed the plea agreement was in the best interest of Petersons son.The probation is all about making him a better parent, Ligon said.Last month, a visiting judge denied a request by prosecutors to have a new judge appointed to the case. Prosecutors had accused Montgomery County state District Judge Kelly Case of being biased against them.The plea deal made moot a pending motion by prosecutors to revoke Petersons $15,000 bond for alleged marijuana use while he was out of bond. Peterson will, however, be subject to random drug tests under the agreement.Corporal punishment is on the decline in the U.S. but still widely practiced in homes and schools. In every state in the country, a parent can legally hit their child as long as the force is reasonable. But whats considered reasonable varies from place to place.The Texas Attorney Generals Office notes that belts and brushes are accepted by many as legitimate disciplinary tools, but electrical or phone cords, boards, yardsticks, ropes, shoes, and wires are likely to be considered instruments of abuse.Texas law says the use of non-deadly force against someone younger than 18 is justified if a parent or guardian reasonably believes the force is necessary to discipline the child or to safeguard or promote his welfare.Ligon said the decision to indict Peterson was a reflection that this went beyond what was reasonable in regards to being a parent. I believe Mr. Peterson is accepting responsibility.___Associated Press writers Howard Fendrich in Washington and Michael Graczyk in Conroe, Texas, contributed to this report.___Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter at www.twitter.com/juanlozano70. ' ' '