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By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
STATS Senior Writer
(AP) -- There's been plenty of
intensity and controversy halfway through this four-game set between
the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays.
The teams have split two one-run games, and both will send struggling starters to the mound Saturday afternoon at Target Field.
This series between small-market
contenders has seen each team rally late for a victory. Tampa Bay
(46-33) won 5-4 in 10 innings Thursday when Evan Longoria doubled in
Carl Crawford with the tying run in the ninth before Willie Aybar
singled in the go-ahead run an inning later.
Minnesota (44-36) returned the favor
with a 2-1 victory Friday. The AL Central-leading Twins managed one hit
off David Price through the first six innings before rallying in the
seventh to score two runs on three hits with two outs. Price took the
loss despite his second career complete game.
"We've got to do better than one
run," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "We had plenty of opportunities and
did not get it done. That's been the rub on us. We can't maintain any
kind of offensive consistency."
Both contests also featured disputed
calls involving umpire Alfonso Marquez. On Thursday, Twins manager Ron
Gardenhire was ejected in the 10th for arguing after Marquez ruled that
third baseman Michael Cuddyer failed to tag Kelly Shoppach.
One night later, Minnesota received
the benefit of the doubt from Marquez, who ruled Danny Valencia safe at
second base on a grounder by Nick Punto in the third inning.
Crawford has six hits and has scored three runs in the series. He's 16 for 29 in his last six road games with eight runs scored.
This matchup will see Francisco
Liriano (6-6, 3.47 ERA) try to end his three-start losing streak for
Minnesota, while Tampa Bay starter Wade Davis (5-9, 4.68) has lost five
outings in a row.
Liriano went 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA in
his final three starts in June, yielding a season-high six runs over
six innings Monday in a 7-5 loss to Detroit.
"I think I get a little bit too
excited," Liriano told the Twins' official website. "That's when I try
to overdo things. I have to relax and just hit my spots."
The left-hander is 2-1 with a 2.39 ERA in four starts against Tampa Bay.
Davis posted a 6.00 ERA in losing
all five starts in June, although he was effective in Sunday's 2-1 loss
to Arizona. The right-hander, who has never faced Minnesota, gave up
two runs over 7 1-3 innings.
"That's what you expect more of out of him, that kind of look," Maddon told the Rays' official website.
Tampa Bay may get a boost with the
return of center fielder B.J. Upton to the lineup. Upton - 4 for 8
lifetime against Liriano - has not started the last four games due to a
sore right quadriceps muscle, and his last start was marred by his
altercation with Longoria in the dugout in Sunday's loss.
Struggling Carlos Pena was dropped
to seventh in the batting order Friday and went 0 for 4. Pena is 12 for
62 over his last 17 games.
Updated July 3, 2010
