Minnesota Twins vs Tampa Bay Rays live streaming mlb broadcast audio webcast video feed online baseball streamed espn 360 gamecast april 14, 2011 . Game Review: The Minnesota Twins have scored the fewest runs in the majors. The Tampa Bay Rays have the big leagues' worst batting average.
These teams lost in AL division series last season, and both are off to slow starts in 2011. Minnesota (4-7) has scored 33 runs while Tampa Bay (3-8) has a .202 average.
Both teams' managers feel they are seeing improvement. The Rays will be back home after splitting six games on the road, winning 3-2 at Boston on Tuesday.
Wednesday's game was rained out.
6:40 PM ET, April 14, 2011
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Pitching Matchup
Minnesota Tampa Bay
Carl Pavano
1-1, 6.00 ERA
Last appearance:
4/08 vs OAK
8.0 IP, 1 ER
Dec = Win
James Shields
0-1, 4.73 ERA
Last appearance:
4/08 at CHW
6.0 IP, 5 ER
Dec = ND
Injury Report
Minnesota
* Trevor Plouffe SS - Apr 13: Day-To-Day
* Juan Morillo SP - Apr 11: Day-To-Day
Tampa Bay
No significant injuries
"We're seeing some progress right now, and I feel good about that," manager Joe Maddon told the Rays' official website. "We got some really good pitching (Tuesday), and finally, some timely hitting is showing up."
The Twins are heading out on an eight-game trip after a 2/3 homestand. They matched a season high in runs in Wednesday's 10-5 loss to Kansas City.
Minnesota split a two-game series with the Royals, amassing 25 hits.
"I thought the last couple of days the ball was coming off our bats pretty good," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We had a lot better at-bats and made some things happen. We got back into the game (Wednesday) by swinging the bats and having some good at-bats."
Gardenhire gave struggling Joe Mauer the day off Wednesday. Mauer is hitting .235 this season, but went 10 for 27 (.370) against Tampa Bay last year.
He's not the only Twin in the middle of the order having trouble, with Justin Morneau and former Tampa Bay outfielder Delmon Young both at .220.
Minnesota may be happy Wednesday's rainout got them a matchup with James Shields (0-1, 4.73 ERA), who is 3-1 with a 5.27 ERA in seven career starts against the Twins. Mauer is 8 for 18 against him, Morneau 6 for 19 and Jason Kubel 8 for 17.
The right-hander yielded three home runs in six innings last Friday at Chicago, allowing five runs but escaping without a decision after the Rays bailed him out with a five-run ninth-inning rally to win 9-7.
Maddon is hoping his team can show more patience at the plate. Tampa Bay led the majors with 672 walks last year, but is in the bottom third this season with 31.
An offense that is sorely missing Evan Longoria could use more from Sean Rodriguez, 4 for 21 this season. Rodriguez hit .367 with two home runs against the Twins last season as the Rays won five of eight.
B.J. Upton fared even better at .375, also with two homers, against Minnesota. Upton has a hit in all five home games this season, going 6 for 18.
The center fielder is 7 for 14 against Carl Pavano (1-1, 6.00), Thursday's starter for Minnesota, while Johnny Damon is 9 for 22 versus the right-hander.
Pavano bounced back after allowing eight runs on opening day to give up one over eight innings Friday in a 2-1 victory over Oakland.
The veteran is 5-4 with a 3.84 ERA in 12 starts against the Rays, including 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA in two last season.
TwinsThese struggling offenses will try to get untracked Thursday night when the Rays look to end their 0-5 home start in the opener of a four-game set.
(4-7, 2-4 away)
Rays
(3-8, 0-5 home)
These teams lost in AL division series last season, and both are off to slow starts in 2011. Minnesota (4-7) has scored 33 runs while Tampa Bay (3-8) has a .202 average.
Both teams' managers feel they are seeing improvement. The Rays will be back home after splitting six games on the road, winning 3-2 at Boston on Tuesday.
Wednesday's game was rained out.
6:40 PM ET, April 14, 2011
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Minnesota Tampa Bay
Carl Pavano
1-1, 6.00 ERA
Last appearance:
4/08 vs OAK
8.0 IP, 1 ER
Dec = Win
James Shields
0-1, 4.73 ERA
Last appearance:
4/08 at CHW
6.0 IP, 5 ER
Dec = ND
Injury Report
Minnesota
* Trevor Plouffe SS - Apr 13: Day-To-Day
* Juan Morillo SP - Apr 11: Day-To-Day
Tampa Bay
No significant injuries
"We're seeing some progress right now, and I feel good about that," manager Joe Maddon told the Rays' official website. "We got some really good pitching (Tuesday), and finally, some timely hitting is showing up."
The Twins are heading out on an eight-game trip after a 2/3 homestand. They matched a season high in runs in Wednesday's 10-5 loss to Kansas City.
Minnesota split a two-game series with the Royals, amassing 25 hits.
"I thought the last couple of days the ball was coming off our bats pretty good," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We had a lot better at-bats and made some things happen. We got back into the game (Wednesday) by swinging the bats and having some good at-bats."
Gardenhire gave struggling Joe Mauer the day off Wednesday. Mauer is hitting .235 this season, but went 10 for 27 (.370) against Tampa Bay last year.
He's not the only Twin in the middle of the order having trouble, with Justin Morneau and former Tampa Bay outfielder Delmon Young both at .220.
Minnesota may be happy Wednesday's rainout got them a matchup with James Shields (0-1, 4.73 ERA), who is 3-1 with a 5.27 ERA in seven career starts against the Twins. Mauer is 8 for 18 against him, Morneau 6 for 19 and Jason Kubel 8 for 17.
The right-hander yielded three home runs in six innings last Friday at Chicago, allowing five runs but escaping without a decision after the Rays bailed him out with a five-run ninth-inning rally to win 9-7.
Maddon is hoping his team can show more patience at the plate. Tampa Bay led the majors with 672 walks last year, but is in the bottom third this season with 31.
An offense that is sorely missing Evan Longoria could use more from Sean Rodriguez, 4 for 21 this season. Rodriguez hit .367 with two home runs against the Twins last season as the Rays won five of eight.
B.J. Upton fared even better at .375, also with two homers, against Minnesota. Upton has a hit in all five home games this season, going 6 for 18.
The center fielder is 7 for 14 against Carl Pavano (1-1, 6.00), Thursday's starter for Minnesota, while Johnny Damon is 9 for 22 versus the right-hander.
Pavano bounced back after allowing eight runs on opening day to give up one over eight innings Friday in a 2-1 victory over Oakland.
The veteran is 5-4 with a 3.84 ERA in 12 starts against the Rays, including 0-1 with a 4.38 ERA in two last season.
