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Twins back in tie for first, take on Mariners

Aug 16, 2008 - 10:12 AM Seattle (46-75) at Minnesota (68-53) 3:55 p.m. EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins are back in a tie for the lead in the American League Central thanks to their most productive inning of the season. A seven-run, eight-hit barrage in the fourth inning propelled the Twins to a 9-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday.

The teams meet again on Saturday.

Winners of six-of-eight, Minnesota is tied with the Chicago White Sox (68-53) after Chicago fell 6-4 to the Oakland Athletics via a Kurt Suzuki walk-off home run.

After a dominant performance from Francisco Liriano, the Twins turn to another young arm in the form of Scott Baker (7-3, 3.78) to stay atop the division standings.

Baker, 26, is coming off a solid outing against the Kansas City Royals. The righthander allowed two runs and seven hits over seven innings, striking out seven and allowing only one walk.

Seattle roughed up Baker for nine hits and six runs in 5 1/3 innings the last time they faced him.

Ryan Rowland-Smith (2-1, 3.71) makes his fourth career start for the Mariners, the first on the road. In his three previous starts, the lefthander has not figured in a decision, posting a 5.02 ERA.

The Australian spent more than three weeks with Class AAA Tacoma preparing for a shot to earn a spot in the 2009 starting rotation for the Mariners.

Seattle (46-75), which has been out of contention for much of the summer in the AL, has been evaluating Rowland-Smith as a starter since being recalled.