MINNEAPOLIS – Marlon Byrd homered and drove in four runs, sending Kameron Loe and the Texas Rangers past the Minnesota Twins 5-0 on Saturday night.

Loe (6-9) came off the disabled list and threw five shutout innings, overcoming five walks by ending four of those innings with two runners on. The Twins stranded a man on third base three times, and Boof Bonser (5-10) lost his eighth straight decision.

In a 2-1 defeat on Friday, Byrd struck out with two runners on to end the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the inning, he misplayed a shallow leadoff single for a two-base error that let the eventual winning run take third.

But Byrd, who became the Rangers’ regular center fielder when Kenny Lofton was traded last month, followed Michael Young’s walk in the fourth inning with a line drive that barely cleared the wall in left field to make it 2-0 Saturday night.

In the fifth inning that Bonser failed to finish, Byrd hit a sharp bouncer through the pitcher’s legs with two outs and runners on second and third. Second baseman Alexi Casilla stopped the ball and fired a tough throw to first base. Justin Morneau couldn’t scoop it, Byrd was credited with an infield single and a pair of RBIs, and Texas had a 5-0 lead.

Bonser walked the next batter and was replaced by Juan Rincon after that. He surrendered seven hits, all five runs and three walks. Bonser, who is 0-8 in his last 12 starts, served up a homer to Jarrod Saltalamacchia to start the fifth.

Loe allowed only three hits and struck out two while throwing 80 pitches. The 6-foot-7 right-hander hadn’t appeared since July 29 because of back spasms, but he passed a big test.

The Twins hit into three double plays and left 10 runners on base.

The start of the game was delayed more than a half-hour for an on-field re-enactment of the 1987 World Series victory parade – and subsequent introductions and speeches – featuring most of the members of that team. The home team is a long way from the ticker tape right now, after falling back to .500 with another fruitless effort at the plate. The Twins were shut out for the 12th time this season, most in the majors.

Notes: Minnesota’s Michael Cuddyer saved a run in the first inning by throwing out Frank Catalanotto at home from right field. Cuddyer, who is second in the majors with 16 outfield assists, fired a two-hopper to catcher Joe Mauer – who barely brushed Catalanotto’s arm with his glove. … Loe’s previous win was on July 1 at Boston.

AP-ES-08-18-07 2225EDT