Joe Saunders made an impressive return to the Texas rotation and Luis Sardinas drove in the only run of the game to lift the Rangers to a 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

Saunders gave up five hits and struck out six in five innings after being activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day.

Sardinas had a two-out single off struggling Twins reliever Jared Burton in the seventh inning to help propel the Rangers to their seventh win in the past 10 games.

Kyle Gibson gave up six hits and struck out four in six scoreless innings, but the Twins left nine runners on base and went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Joe Mauer went 0 for 4.