ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Trevor Larnach led off the game with a home run, Kody Clemens added a three-run shot, and the Minnesota Twins clinched another series in Texas with an 12-2 win over the Rangers on Tuesday night.
Larnach drove the game’s second pitch 425 feet deep into the right-field seats. The 10 leadoff homers allowed by the Rangers this season are twice as many as any other team.
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Minnesota Twins' Luke Keaschall hits a single scoring teammate Josh Bell during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker sits on the bench after being pulled during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Minnesota Twins' Kody Clemens (2) celebrates his home run that scored teammate's Byron Buxton, left, and Trevor Larnach during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Minnesota Twins' Trevor Larnach runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Clemens’ 11th homer made it 5-0 in the third. Josh Bell, who was born in nearby Irving and grew up in the area, had two hits and two RBIs.
Minnesota right-hander Zebby Matthews (3-4) struck out four without a walk in seven innings. He allowed both Texas runs and threw 68 of 93 pitches for strikes.
The Twins have won the first two in this three-game set for their fourth consecutive series win at Texas. Their 13-5 record at Globe Life Field is the best by any opposing American League team since the ballpark opened in 2020.
Rangers starter Kumar Rocker (2-6) was done after 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (six earned). His 2.77 ERA at home had the best for any Texas pitcher in his first 15 career home starts, but that spiked to 3.32 after his 16th.
Minnesota extended its lead to 10-0 with a five-run fourth in which right fielder Brandon Nimmo was charged with two errors, on a dropped flyball and a bad throw. It was the first two-error game in Nimmo's 1,065 career games in the outfield. He has only 17 errors total in 11 seasons.
After an unusual break in the series Wednesday, when England and Croatia play in a World Cup game across the street, the finale is Thursday. Joe Ryan (4-3, 3.17 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Twins, and Jack Leiter (3-6, 4.97) goes for Texas.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Minnesota Twins' Luke Keaschall hits a single scoring teammate Josh Bell during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker sits on the bench after being pulled during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Minnesota Twins' Kody Clemens (2) celebrates his home run that scored teammate's Byron Buxton, left, and Trevor Larnach during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Minnesota Twins' Trevor Larnach runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Kylian Mbappé passed Pelé on the World Cup goal-scoring list and moved into first in the record books for France's national team.
Mbappé scored his 13th and 14th World Cup goals on Tuesday in France's 3-1 tournament-opening victory against Senegal. Those were his 57th and 58th playing internationally, tying and passing Oliver Giroud for the most in the country's rich history.
“I play to make history with my country and help my team win the World Cup,” Mbappé said in French, adding that he was thinking of his family, friends and loved ones when he scored.
Mbappé first scored in the 66th minute after having several quality scoring chances denied by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, including earlier in the second half. He scored again from long range in the sixth minute of stoppage time, mere seconds after Senegal got its first goal.
“It was crazy,” France defender William Saliba said. “We just conceded the first goal for Senegal, and just one minute after, we score a banger. I was so happy. Yeah, a crazy goal.”
Mbappé's second goal broke a tie with Pelé. He celebrated by mimicking playing a flute, after comedian James Corden suggested that on his Fox show.
After scoring his second of the afternoon to pass countryman Just Fontaine, the 27-year-old playing in his third World Cup is now tied with Germany’s Gerd Müller for the fourth most in tournament history. Mbappé is one behind Brazil's Ronaldo and two away from the record of 16 held by Miroslav Klose of Germany and Lionel Messi, who had a hat trick for Argentina hours later to match that mark.
“Of course I think he has everything to beat the World Cup (record),” Saliba said. “I hope he is going to do it in this tournament because for sure he has everything, and I’m sure that he will do it.”
France coach Didier Deschamps liked what he saw from Mbappé even before putting the ball in the net.
“Before he scored the first two goals today, as a captain and outside of the field he does a lot for the group,” Deschamps said through an interpreter. “He’s got a global aura due to his real talent. He’s a very decisive player at all times.”
Deschamps called Mbappé an iconic player, while acknowledging there will always be criticism. That does not seem to be a problem for a player coming off scoring 25 goals this past season for Real Madrid.
“The critics? It’s not about revenge,” Mbappé said. “If I started playing for all the people who criticize me just to silence them, I’d have to play until I was 80.”
Mbappé helped France win the World Cup title in 2018 and reach the final in 2022, when he was awarded the Silver Ball as the second-best player. Joined up front by Désiré Doué and reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, France went into this year’s tournament as the co-favorite along with Spain.
Mbappé had little trouble finding room between Senegal defenders several times in the first 14 or so minutes. But he was sloppy with the ball for much of the rest of the first half before he and his teammates started to mesh.
Then the goals materialized, a good sign for France given the lofty expectations. Mbappé will be counted on to keep scoring to contend to win the World Cup.
“For him, it’s a good thing to achieve this thing to be the best scorer of the French national team,” teammate Adrien Rabiot said. “Great achievement. We are happy for him. And I hope he will continue like this for the tournament.”
AP Sports Writer Eric Nunez contributed to this report.
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
France head coach Didier Deschamps and Kylian Mbappe celebrate after the third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
France's Kylian Mbappe applauds the fans at the end of during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
France's Kylian Mbappe scores during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
France's Kylian Mbappe reacts during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Senegal's Sadio Mane, left, stops France's Kylian Mbappe during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal of his team during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring thrid goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
