The way Johan Santana was pitching, Mike Redmond thought he might get to catch a no-hitter. Redmond had to settle for a whole bunch of strikeouts instead.

Santana set a franchise record with 17 Ks in eight innings to lead the Minnesota Twins past the Texas Rangers 1-0 Sunday.

"I've had a handful of opportunities to catch a no-hitter. I've had a couple of one-hitters and a few two-hitters," Redmond said. "When I walked off the field in the second inning I thought 'This could be it. This guy's got some amazing stuff today.' ... He was unbelievable. He executed all day."

Santana's 17 strikeouts were the most in the majors since Ben Sheets fanned 18 in Milwaukee's 4-1 win over Atlanta on May 16, 2004, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He broke the Minnesota record of 15, accomplished four times — the last by Bert Blyleven on Aug. 1, 1986, against Oakland.

"I didn't try to do anything different, I was just trying to stay aggressive, get ahead in the count and throw my fastball for strikes," Santana said.

At the Metrodome, Santana retired the first 12 batters he faced before Sammy Sosa led off the fifth with a single to left-center. Sosa also doubled with two outs in the seventh for Texas' only other hit against the left-hander.

Joe Nathan pitched a scoreless ninth for his 27th save in 29 chances. He struck out Brad Wilkerson and Michael Young with a runner on second to finish off the two-hitter.

Michael Cuddyer hit a 425-foot home run off Kevin Millwood (8-10) in the second inning. That was Millwood's only mistake — he allowed four hits and struck out three in seven innings for Texas.

"At times I felt I got lucky. I threw some bad pitches that they just missed," Millwood said.