• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Twins-Rays Preview

Aug 5, 2010 - 4:40 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (59-48) at Tampa Bay (67-39), 12:10 p.m. EDT

Wade Davis has become quite a different pitcher since he last faced the Minnesota Twins.

He'll try to win his fifth straight start and pitch the Tampa Bay Rays back into sole possession of the AL East lead Thursday afternoon at home against the Twins.

Davis (9-9, 5.00 ERA) gave up four runs over 4 1-3 innings July 3 in an 8-6 win at Minnesota. He exited with Tampa Bay (67-40) trailing 4-1, and that outing ended a six-start stretch in which he went 0-5 with a 6.32 ERA.

The right-hander has turned his season around by posting a 2.22 ERA in four outings since that one at Target Field. He yielded two runs over seven innings last Friday in a 3-2 win over the New York Yankees.

"That's as good as I think I've seen him," manager Joe Maddon told the Rays' official website.

Davis will try to continue a string of stellar efforts by Rays starters, who have lasted at least seven innings in a franchise-best six straight games.

Tampa Bay couldn't take advantage of seven strong innings by 14-game winner David Price in Wednesday's 2-1, 13-inning loss. Price failed to add to his AL-leading victory total as Tampa Bay fell into a tie for first in the East with the Yankees.

With New York idle Thursday, Tampa Bay with a victory would regain the division lead heading into a weekend in which it travels to face Toronto while the Yankees host the arch-rival Red Sox.

The Rays on Wednesday welcomed back Ben Zobrist, who went 1 for 5 at first base after missing the previous six games due to lower back stiffness. Regular first baseman Carlos Pena has missed four straight games, but may be able to pinch-hit Thursday.

Delmon Young had a tiebreaking RBI single in the 13th inning Wednesday as Minnesota (60-48) overcame new closer Matt Capps' blown save in the ninth. Winners in nine of their last 11, the Twins remained 1 1/2 games behind Chicago for the AL Central lead.

"An exciting baseball game," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Well pitched by both sides. A lot of big at-bats and nothing to show for it, and that's probably because of the pitching."

Joe Mauer went 1 for 4 in his second game back as designated hitter after missing two with a shoulder injury. Mauer will remain the DH for at least one more game.

"He's just not going to catch. We're not going to mess with it," Gardenhire told the Twins' official website. "We're just trying to alleviate it as much as we can."

Minnesota's Kevin Slowey (10-5, 4.44) looks to win three straight starts for the first time this year. He was outstanding Saturday in a 4-0 home victory over Seattle, yielding three hits in eight innings.

"Occasionally, there's lack of execution and I think the last couple of starts I've executed better," Slowey said.

The right-hander will face a stiffer challenge in Tampa Bay after taking advantage of last-place teams - Baltimore and the Mariners - in his last two starts. He's faced the Rays once, giving up five runs in 4 1-3 innings of a 7-2 road loss Sept. 20, 2008.