1.   And both young starters gave the Twins and the Yankees plenty of chances to knock them out of the game early.

2.   After the seventh inning, the starters gave way to the bullpens, with both Brown and Rueter allowing four hits and one run over seven innings.

3.   But Rangers starters had given at least six innings in only two of their previous six games.

4.   Particularly since the Yankees have lived all year on the notion that starters give six innings so that the high-octane fastballs of Rivera and Wetteland can finish.

5.   Marc Valdes, who relieved starter Chris Holt in the seventh, gave up an unearned run in the eighth.

6.   Suddenly, the starter was giving her the countdown.

7.   The Seattle starter gave up six hits, hit two batters and walked one in seven innings.