SB Nation Minnesota - Twins Drop Game, Series Against Rayshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2010-07-04T17:23:50-05:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13159802010-07-04T17:23:50-05:002010-07-04T17:23:50-05:00Twins Lose 7-4, Drop Series To Tampa Bay
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<p>(Sports Network) – Evan Longoria went 3-for-5 with three runs batted in and finished a home run shy of the cycle, as the Tampa Bay Rays downed the Minnesota Twins, 7-4, in the finale of a four-game set at Target Field.</p>
<p>Sean Rodriguez turned in a three-hit game, with a solo homer, and Gabe Kapler added a two-run pinch-hit double for Tampa Bay, which took three games in the series and has won four of five overall.</p>
<p>James Shields (7-8) earned the win after allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts in six-plus innings. The right-hander had dropped seven of his previous eight starts coming in. Rafael Soriano registered his 21st save of the season with a scoreless ninth.</p>
<p>Jim Thome had a two-run single and Justin Morneau went 2-for-4 with an <span class="caps">RBI</span> double and a run scored for the Twins, who have split their last six contests.</p>
<p>Nick Blackburn (7-6) was tagged with the loss for surrendering nine hits and seven runs — four earned — while walking two and fanning three over 6 1/3 innings.</p>
<p>Longoria’s triple to right in the first scored Rodriguez, who led off the inning with a single, to give the Rays the early lead.</p>
<p>Minnesota answered with a run in the home half as Joe Mauer reached with a two-out single and came around to score on Morneau’s double to tie things.</p>
<p>Rodriguez then put the Rays back in front with a leadoff homer to right in the third and they would tack on five more in the seventh to go ahead 7-1.</p>
<p>The first two batters singled to put runners on first and second before Blackburn’s throwing error on Jason Bartlett’s sacrifice bunt allowed a run to score. After Rodriguez grounded out, Carl Crawford was walked intentionally to load the bases. Longoria’s single to center brought in two more and signaled the end of the afternoon for Blackburn.</p>
<p>Brian Duensing took over and struck out Willy Aybar then gave up a two-run double to Kapler.</p>
<p>The Twins were able to get back three in the home seventh to cut the deficit to 7-4. Minnesota quickly loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk before Thome singled off the right-field wall that plated two. Grant Balfour replaced Shields and served up a run-scoring single to Delmon Young, but settled down to retire the next three hitters to limit the damage.</p>
<p>Randy Choate pitched a perfect eighth and Soriano closed the game out after giving up one hit in the ninth.</p>
<p>Both clubs will be well represented at this year’s All-Star Game in Anaheim as Twins catcher Mauer was the top vote-getter overall and Morneau was selected as the starting first baseman…Rays outfielder Crawford and third baseman Longoria were voted in to start in the Midsummer Classic and they’ll be joined by pitcher David Price…Shields improved to 3-1 in seven career starts against the Twins…Blackburn dropped to 5-1 in eight starts at Target Field this season.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/7/4/1552453/twins-lose-7-4-drop-series-toTwins Territory2010-07-04T09:38:07-05:002010-07-04T09:38:07-05:00Twins Look To Split Series With Rays
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<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">(Sports Network) - Tampa Bay is the best road team in the majors and will try to show why when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/TAM" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Rays</a> take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/MIN" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Minnesota Twins</a> in the finale of a four-game set at Target Field.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Tampa, which is currently two games behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/NYY" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Yankees</a> for first place in the AL East, comes into this matchup with an outstanding 27-14 ledger on the road.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">However, taking the ball for the Rays this afternoon will be <span>James Shields</span>, who has dropped seven of his last eight starts, including his last two.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The last time Shields was on the hill he surrendered five runs in a loss to Boston. In the contest the right-hander only lasted five innings, allowing seven hits, while striking out six batters.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Shields has been mediocre at best on the road this season, posting a 5-4 ledger with a 4.00 earned run average in nine games.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">This will be the veteran's seventh career start against Minnesota, and although he is 2-1 in those outings, he also possesses a lackluster 5.15 earned run average.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Twins will turn this afternoon to <span>Nick Blackburn</span>, who snapped a five-game winless streak with a solid performance against Detroit. In the 11-4 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/DET" style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; color: #c61c17; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Tigers</a>, Blackburn tossed seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, but he also struck out four batters.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Overall on the year Blackburn has been inconsistent, but at Target Field the right-hander has been sensational, posting a 5-0 mark with a 3.47 earned run average in seven starts at home.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">However, the Rays have been a thorn in the side for Blackburn. In three career starts against Tampa, Blackburn is 2-1, but has a horrendous ERA of 6.28.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Yesterday, <span>Matt Joyce</span>'s pinch-hit grand slam put the finishing touches on Tampa Bay's seven-run eighth inning, highlighting an 8-6 comeback win over Minnesota.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Rays, who split the first two in this set, were stymied by <span>Francisco Liriano</span> through seven innings before rallying against the Twins' bullpen.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span>Carl Crawford</span>, <span>Evan Longoria</span> and <span>Willy Aybar</span> each drove in a run during the game-shifting eighth. Crawford finished 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI in the win, which was credited to <span>Randy Choate</span> (1-2) for throwing a scoreless home seven.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The turnaround took <span>Wade Davis</span> off the hook after the starter surrendered four runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Liriano threw seven innings of one-run ball but did not factor in the decision despite striking out 10 and allowing just four hits and a walk for the Twins, who had won three of four coming in.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Minnesota's <span>Jim Thome</span> went 3-for-4 with three RBI and hit a pair of home runs, the second moving him past Twins great Harmon Killebrew into sole possession of 10th place on the all-time home run list with 574.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">These two clubs have split their six-game series in each of the last two years, with the Rays losing two of three at Minnesota a season ago.</p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2010/7/4/2317442/twins-look-to-split-series-with-raysTwins Territory