Twins, Bullpen Can't Complete Sweep Of Rays

First, the good news: the Twins banged out 14 hits on Wednesday afternoon. Their lone All-Star once again proved why he belongs on the squad. Jim Thome knocked in a couple runs. Anthony Swarzak had three strikeouts in just two innings of work.

Now, the bad news: pretty much everything else.

Minnesota's series finale against the Rays was a roller coaster affair that ultimately ended by coming off the rails. Tampa Bay exploded for seven runs in the final two innings to cement a 12-5 victory over the Twins.

Twins' starter Francisco Liriano was fighting it all day, and it was pretty evident from the first batter on. Liriano plunked Johnny Damon to start the game, and he would end up with three HBP on the day (including Damon for a second time in the third inning, who was replaced by Sam Fuld his next at bat). On top of the three hit batsmen, Liriano walked four and gave up six hits in just 4 1/3 innings. By the time Swarzak took over in the 5th, the Twins were trailing 5-2 and reeling. But Swarzak was able to pitch two shutout innings to help the Twins get back in the game.

With two out and two on in the bottom of the 5th, Jim Thome came through with a clutch single that scored both Tsuyoshi Nishioka and Alexi Casilla and brought the Twins within a run. Thome attempted to tie the game after a single by Rene Tosoni, but the comically slow Thome was thrown out by a good ten feet to end the inning.

The Rays threatened to extend their lead in the top of the seventh, but Jose Mijares and Alex Burnett came on to get two big outs. In the bottom of the seventh, it was time for Minnesota's All-Star to shine. After already knocking in two runs earlier in the game, Michael Cuddyer hit a solo blast to left center. Cuddyer's 13th home run of the year tied the game at 5 and give the home team all the momentum.

But then the wheels fell off.

Burnett allowed four runs off four hits and a walk in the eighth, including a 2-run homer by Sean Rodriguez. Already down four runs heading into the ninth, Phil Dumatrait came on for the Twins and made sure there was no doubt about the outcome. He gave up a three-run bomb to Evan Longoria to finish off the scoring for the Rays. The Twins were able to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but Joe Mauer came off the bench and promptly struck out to end the game.

The loss leaves Minnesota with a 38-47 record as they head into their last series before the All-Star Game. The Twins head to Chicago to take on the rival White Sox for a four-game series starting Thursday night. The big news is that the aforementioned Mauer will most likely make his first career start at first base. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM CT.

Twins Turn To Liriano In Quest To Sweep Rays

The Minnesota Twins will look to win their seventh game in their last eight tries and attempt to complete a sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays when the two teams meet on Wednesday afternoon at Target Field in the last game of their three game series.

Since June 1, the Twins are 21-9, the best record in the majors over that span. . .particularly impressive when you figure that there was a six-game losing streak as part of that stretch. The Twins also continue to chug along despite missing Justin Morneau, Denard Span, and Jason Kubel. On Tuesday night, the Twins survived Scott Baker leaving early with an elbow strain and another shaky outing from Matt Capps to defeat the Rays 3-2.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Twins will give the ball to left-hander Francisco Liriano (5-7, 4.76 ERA). In his last start, Liriano pitched very well against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing two runs and four hits over seven innings of work as the Twins knocked off the Brewers 6-2. The Twins have won three of Liriano's last four starts.

The Rays will counter with right-hander Wade Davis (7-6, 4.20 ERA). Davis had a personal three-game winning streak snapped in his last start, as he allowed two runs on six hits over seven innings in the Rays' 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He has given up two earned runs or less in three consecutive starts, and has already beaten the Twins twice this season, allowing just three runs in 13.2 innings pitched against Minnesota.

First pitch from Target Field is scheduled for 12:10 PM Central time. You can check out the Game Thread at Twinkie Town for all of the in-game action, and be sure to check back here for the recap after the action is completed.

Capps Shaky Again, But Twins Hold On For 3-2 Victory Over Rays

Matt Capps did his best Ron Davis impression in the top of the ninth inning on Tuesday night at Target Field against the Tampa Bay Rays, but the Minnesota Twins still managed to hang on for a 3-2 victory.

The Twins got out to an early lead against Rays' starter James Shields (8-6, 2.47 ERA). Ben Revere led off the inning with a single, and Alexi Casilla's double put runners on second and third with nobody out. After Joe Mauer struck out swinging, Michael Cuddyer brought Revere home with a ground out to third, giving the Twins an early 1-0 lead.

Minnesota struck again in the bottom of the third, when Casilla and Revere were on first and second, respectively, with one out. Mauer flew out to left for the second out, but Cuddyer came through once again with a single to right. Revere came in to score to make it 2-0, and an error by Matt Joyce allowed Casilla to come in as well to make the score 3-0.

Tampa Bay got a run back in the top of the fourth, thanks to an error by Danny Valencia on a ground ball by Casey Kotchman to make the score 3-1. Scott Baker (7-5, 3.01 ERA) appeared to be cruising, but Phil Dumatrait came out for the top of the sixth inning despite Baker having only allowed one run on three hits through five innings. Baker was diagnosed with a mild strain of his right elbow, and will be re-evaluated on Wednesday. Dumatrait performed well, allowing just one hit in 1.2 innings of work. Alex Burnett came in and retired Elliot Johnson on a fly ball to left to finish the seventh, and Joe Nathan gave up one hit in a scoreless eighth inning.

Then Matt Capps came in for the top of the ninth, and all hell attempted to break loose. Capps' first pitch was deposited into the left field seats by B.J. Upton, a solo home run that cut the Minnesota lead to 3-2. Capps then walked Kotchman, and followed that up by retiring Sean Rodriguez and Sam Fuld on fly balls. He then went to a full count on Kelly Shoppach before walking him to put runners on first and second, and Ron Gardenhire made the move to Glen Perkins. It marked the third consecutive save opportunity for Capps when he was unable to close the deal.

Perkins came in to face Twins killer Johnny Damon, and induced a weak ground ball to shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka. Nishioka fired the ball to first and, even though Damon appeared to be safe on the reply, first base umpire Gary Darling called him out, securing a 3-2 victory for the Twins, their third in a row and their second in a row over an American League All-Star, having beaten David Price on Monday afternoon. The save for Perkins was his second in as many chances.

The Twins will go for the sweep on Wednesday afternoon at Target Field, with first pitch scheduled for 12:10 PM Central time. The Twins will send left-hander Francisco Liriano (5-7, 4.76 ERA) to the mound, while Tampa Bay will go with right-hander Wade Davis (7-6, 4.20 ERA).

Twins Pitcher Scott Baker Leaves Game With Mild Elbow Strain

Things have been going semi-well for the Minnesota Twins as of late. That must mean it's time for another injury.

Right-hander Scott Baker, who has arguably been the Twins' best pitcher in 2011, was pulled from his start on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays with a mild strain of his right elbow, being replaced by Phil Dumatrait after five innings of work. He will be re-evaluated tomorrow.

Baker, who is 6-5 this season and reduced his ERA to 3.01 with his five innings of one-run ball on Tuesday night, went out of the game after five innings, allowing one unearned run to the Rays in the top of the fourth (as a result of an error by Danny Valencia) and allowed just three hits while striking out three and walking one.

We will have more updates on Scott Baker's injury as they become available. As of this moment, the Twins still lead the Rays by a score of 3-1.

Twins Turn To Baker In Hopes Of Third Consecutive Victory

The Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays will play the second game of their three-game set at Target Field on Tuesday evening, and the Twins will hope that the man that has been their best pitcher for most of this year can continue his hot streak.

Scott Baker (6-5, 3.15 ERA) has not allowed a run at Target Field in his last 16.1 innings pitched there, and has surrendered just one run in 31.1 innings in his last four home starts, compiling a 3-0 record and striking out 32 opposing hitters in the process. His last start was on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he struck out nine in 7.1 innings, allowing just six hits in a 1-0 Minnesota victory. He has also had recent success against the Rays, going 1-0 with an ERA of 0.82 in his last three starts against Tampa Bay.

The Twins beat one Rays all-star pitcher on Monday when they knocked off David Price, and will hope to repeat the feat again on Tuesday when they face right-hander James Shields (8-5, 2.45 ERA). In Shields' last start, he had his personal four-game winning streak snapped, as he gave up four runs on seven hits in seven innings of work as the Rays fell to the Cincinnati Reds, 4-3. Shields leads the American League in complete games with six, and is second in the AL in strikeouts with 127, trailing only Detroit's Justin Verlander.

First pitch from Target Field is scheduled for 7:10 PM Central time. Our friends at Twinkie Town don't have their Game Thread set up at this time, but keep checking. . .it will be there soon enough. After the game comes to an end, we will have the recap right back here for you.

Duen-Slinger: Brian's Complete Game Shutout Helps Twins Past Rays

(The "Duen-slinger" name was stolen from the Twitter of Seth Stohs of Seth Speaks. If his site isn't one of your regular Twins-related stops, it should be.)

The Minnesota Twins had not had a great deal of success against the Tampa Bay Rays this season, having lost six of the seven meetings between the two teams this season. Brian Duensing, who had gotten the only victory the Twins had mustered against the Rays this year, continued his personal success against the Rays this year as he fired a complete game shutout to lead the Twins to a 7-0 win on Monday afternoon at Target Field.

Things got off to a bit of a rocky start for Duensing, as Johnny Damon and Sean Rodriguez both reached on singles to start the game. After Evan Longoria flied out to left, Duensing issued a walk to B.J. Upton to load the bases. Fortunately, he got Justin Ruggiano to ground into an inning-ending double play to end the threat.

The Twins got the scoring underway in the bottom of the second, after Danny Valencia singled to left. Luke Hughes then struck out, but a single by Jason Repko and a walk to Matt Tolbert loaded the bases, and up came the much-embattled Tsuyoshi Nishioka. Nishioka smashed a double to deep right field to bring home Valencia and Repko to make the score 2-0. Ben Revere then grounded out to shortstop, allowing Tolbert to score from third and make the score 3-0.

In the bottom of the third, Michael Cuddyer celebrated being named to his first ever All-Star game yesterday by launching a mammoth home run into the second deck in left field, a solo blast to make the score 4-0. Things then remained scoreless until the bottom of the eighth, when Danny Valencia hit a shot that barely cleared the left field wall for a three-run home run, making the score 7-0.

Duensing (6-7, 4.25 ERA) found himself a serious groove after getting battered around early. From the fifth inning onward, the Rays had only two baserunners, a walk to Elliot Johnson to lead off the fifth, and a one-out single to center by Rodriguez in the eighth. Duensing's final line had him allowing six hits and walking four while striking out seven in the complete game shutout.

Rays' starter David Price (8-7, 3.56 ERA) took the loss for Tampa Bay. He allowed four runs on five hits in six innings of work, striking out six and walking one in the process.

The second game of this three-game set will take place on Tuesday night at Target Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM Central time. The Rays will give the ball to another All-Star, right-hander James Shields (8-5, 2.45 ERA), while the Twins will send Scott Baker (6-5, 3.15 ERA) to the hill.

Rays At Twins: Minnesota Attempts To Reverse Fortunes Against Tampa Bay

The Minnesota Twins have not had a great deal of success against the Tampa Bay Rays this season, and they will need to reverse that trend if they want to move further up the standings in the American League Central. Those two teams will begin a three-game series on Monday afternoon at Target Field.

The Twins have played the Rays seven times this season, with Tampa winning six out of those seven games. The Rays won three out of four at Tropicana Field from April 14 to April 17, and then came into Target Field and swept the Twins in a three-game set on April 27 and 28 (a doubleheader was played on the 28th as a result of a rain out on the 26th). Dating back to last season, the Rays have won five in a row at Target Field.

Tampa Bay will give the ball to All-Star left-hander David Price (8-6, 3.43 ERA) to begin the series. Price has not pitched against the Twins in either series the two teams have played this season. In his last start, he allowed two runs on six hits in 7.2 innings as the Rays defeated the Cincinnati Reds in interleague action by a score of 4-3.

Minnesota will counter with left-hander Brian Duensing (5-7, 4.69 ERA). Duensing has the Twins' lone victory over the Rays this season, as back on April 17 he allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings pitched as the Twins defeated the Rays, 4-2. He wasn't great in his last start on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing four runs on four hits in five innings pitched, but it was good enough for a victory as the Twins defeated the Dodgers 6-4.

First pitch from Target Field is scheduled for 1:10 PM Central time. If you're going to be hanging around the internet while the game is on, you can check out Twinkie Town for their Game Thread, and we will recap all of the action here for you when everything is done with.