Aug 26, 2008 - 9:13 AM
0 shoutsMinnesota (74-57) at Seattle (49-82) 10:10 pm EDT
SEATTLE (Ticker) -- In the midst of a competitive playoff battle, the Minnesota Twins need to avoid heart-breaking losses to the worst team in the American League.
The Twins will attempt to bounce back from an extra-inning setback and end a three-game losing skid when they face Adrian Beltre and the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.
Beltre belted a walk-off, two-run homer in the 11th inning on Monday, powering the Mariners to a 4-2 victory over the Twins.
"It was great to get a big hit in that situation," Beltre said. "I was just looking for a pitch to hit into the gap so Raul (Ibanez) could score. I knew I hit it good, but I just wasn't sure if I hit it high enough."
Seattle manager Jim Riggleman said it was about time that something good happened to Beltre, who is hitting just .248 this season.
"He's hit in bad luck all year," Riggleman said. "Even that ball had so much topspin it looked like it might not carry as far as it did. We were fortunate that it did."
With the loss, the Twins fell a game behind the division-leading Chicago White Sox in the American League Central. They also sit 1 1/2 games back of the Boston Red Sox in the wild card race.
Minnesota hopes righthander Scott Baker (7-3, 3.74 ERA) can get the club back on track. The 26-year-old Baker, who has not lost since July 20, pitched eight outstanding innings during Thursday's 2-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
He will be opposed by lefthander Ryan Rowland-Smith (2-2, 3.84), who is making his sixth start of the season and 41st appearance. Smith is 0-1 with a 4.79 ERA as a starter this season.
From the Bleachers
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MINNESOTA: 2
SEATTLE: 3
Final
Aug 27 12:42 AM -
AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOSE LOPEZ SCORED ADRIAN BELTRE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J LOPEZ ON FIRST, R IBANEZ ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2
SEATTLE 3 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: J CLEMENT (.228, 1-FOR-2, 2 RBI)
Aug 26 11:44 PM -
AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY RANDY RUIZ (1) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN THE
6TH OFF RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH.
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2, SEATTLE 2
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: D YOUNG (.285, 0-FOR-2)
Aug 26 11:36 PM -
AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
JUSTIN MORNEAU HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING ALEXI CASILLA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1
SEATTLE 2 TOP, 6TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: R RUIZ (.310, 0-FOR-2)
Aug 26 11:36 PM -
AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JEFF CLEMENT SCORED RAUL IBANEZ AND JOSE LOPEZ.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J CLEMENT ON FIRST, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 0
SEATTLE 2 BOTTOM, 2ND
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: Y BETANCOURT (.265, 4 HR, 35 RBI)
Aug 26 10:40 PM
