Minnesota Twins vs Tampa Bay Rays live streaming mlb audio video feed online coverage internet tv soapcast radio commentary webcast espn 360 gamecast april 15, 2011. Game Review: Already off to a slow start, the Minnesota Twins now face the challenge of getting back on track without their best player for the immediate future.
Manager Ron Gardenhire announced after Thursday's 4-3, 10-inning loss that the three-time AL batting champ would go on the 15-day DL with leg weakness after missing the series opener. Mauer, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the offseason, is batting .235 with four RBIs.
"He's going to go fly to Baltimore (Friday) and see his doctor there, and then he'll head home to start rehab of getting his body and his legs in shape," Gardenhire said. "I think they say it was bilateral leg weakness, which is causing all kinds of soreness. He's compensating because of the surgery he had this winter."
7:10 PM ET, April 15, 2011
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Pitching Matchup
Minnesota v Tampa Bay
Nick Blackburn
1-1, 0.77 ERA
Last appearance:
4/09 vs OAK
6.0 IP, 0 ER
Dec = Loss
Wade Davis
0-2, 4.38 ERA
Last appearance:
4/09 at CHW
6.0 IP, 2 ER
Dec = Loss
Injury Report
Minnesota
* Joe Mauer C - Apr 15: 15-Day DL
* Trevor Plouffe SS - Apr 13: Day-To-Day
* Juan Morillo SP - Apr 11: Day-To-Day
Tampa Bay
* Evan Longoria 3B - Apr 14: 15-Day DL
Losing Mauer would be a major blow to the Twins (4-8), who average 3.0 runs and have a .287 on-base percentage.
"You can't panic," said Gardenhire, whose team has dropped four of five. "You can't worry about it. You just have to keep playing. You have to learn through those things and you just have to keep plugging away."
Danny Valencia went 3 for 4 Thursday, and gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead with an RBI single in the 10th after Tampa Bay's Matt Joyce delivered a two-run double off Joe Nathan to tie the game in the ninth. Johnny Damon's two-run walkoff homer sent the Rays (4-8) to their fourth win in six games after starting 0-6.
Though the Rays are playing better, Thursday was just the third time they scored more than three runs in a game. Tampa Bay has won its last two by one run.
"It's nice to see them celebrating. ... We needed something like that to really get us going," Rays manager Joe Maddon. "The primary reason we've been struggling has been hitting. So when hitting comes through in the end like that to pick us up, that's nice."
Sam Fuld is one of the few Rays faring well at the plate, batting .375 during a five-game hitting streak.
Damon is hitting .217 this season, but is 9 for 27 with three homers and nine RBIs in his last six games. He's a lifetime .318 hitter with two doubles and two home runs against Nick Blackburn, Minnesota's scheduled starter.
The Rays managed just four hits in eight innings against Carl Pavano on Thursday, and could be in for another challenge versus Blackburn (1-1, 0.77 ERA), who has given up one earned run in 11 2/3 innings this season.
Blackburn allowed an unearned run in six innings of a 1-0 loss to Oakland on Saturday. The Twins have committed three errors in his two outings.
The right-hander is 2-2 with a 6.10 ERA against the Rays, including 1-1 with a 9.82 ERA at Tropicana Field.
Like Blackburn, Tampa Bay's Wade Davis (0-2, 4.38) has been given little offensive support in 2011. The right-hander has received an average 1.46 runs of support in his two outings.
He allowed two runs in six innings of a 4-2 loss at Chicago on Saturday.
"He's tough," White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski told the Rays' official website. "He changes speeds very well. He mixes up his pitches very well."
Though Davis has an 8.71 ERA in two starts versus Minnesota, he has yet to receive a decision.
TwinsWith Joe Mauer headed to the disabled list, the Twins look to avoid a third straight loss while trying to end the Tampa Bay Rays' three-game winning streak Friday night at Tropicana Field.
(4-8, 2-5 away)
Rays
(4-8, 1-5 home)
Manager Ron Gardenhire announced after Thursday's 4-3, 10-inning loss that the three-time AL batting champ would go on the 15-day DL with leg weakness after missing the series opener. Mauer, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the offseason, is batting .235 with four RBIs.
"He's going to go fly to Baltimore (Friday) and see his doctor there, and then he'll head home to start rehab of getting his body and his legs in shape," Gardenhire said. "I think they say it was bilateral leg weakness, which is causing all kinds of soreness. He's compensating because of the surgery he had this winter."
7:10 PM ET, April 15, 2011
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Minnesota v Tampa Bay
Nick Blackburn
1-1, 0.77 ERA
Last appearance:
4/09 vs OAK
6.0 IP, 0 ER
Dec = Loss
Wade Davis
0-2, 4.38 ERA
Last appearance:
4/09 at CHW
6.0 IP, 2 ER
Dec = Loss
Injury Report
Minnesota
* Joe Mauer C - Apr 15: 15-Day DL
* Trevor Plouffe SS - Apr 13: Day-To-Day
* Juan Morillo SP - Apr 11: Day-To-Day
Tampa Bay
* Evan Longoria 3B - Apr 14: 15-Day DL
Losing Mauer would be a major blow to the Twins (4-8), who average 3.0 runs and have a .287 on-base percentage.
"You can't panic," said Gardenhire, whose team has dropped four of five. "You can't worry about it. You just have to keep playing. You have to learn through those things and you just have to keep plugging away."
Danny Valencia went 3 for 4 Thursday, and gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead with an RBI single in the 10th after Tampa Bay's Matt Joyce delivered a two-run double off Joe Nathan to tie the game in the ninth. Johnny Damon's two-run walkoff homer sent the Rays (4-8) to their fourth win in six games after starting 0-6.
Though the Rays are playing better, Thursday was just the third time they scored more than three runs in a game. Tampa Bay has won its last two by one run.
"It's nice to see them celebrating. ... We needed something like that to really get us going," Rays manager Joe Maddon. "The primary reason we've been struggling has been hitting. So when hitting comes through in the end like that to pick us up, that's nice."
Sam Fuld is one of the few Rays faring well at the plate, batting .375 during a five-game hitting streak.
Damon is hitting .217 this season, but is 9 for 27 with three homers and nine RBIs in his last six games. He's a lifetime .318 hitter with two doubles and two home runs against Nick Blackburn, Minnesota's scheduled starter.
The Rays managed just four hits in eight innings against Carl Pavano on Thursday, and could be in for another challenge versus Blackburn (1-1, 0.77 ERA), who has given up one earned run in 11 2/3 innings this season.
Blackburn allowed an unearned run in six innings of a 1-0 loss to Oakland on Saturday. The Twins have committed three errors in his two outings.
The right-hander is 2-2 with a 6.10 ERA against the Rays, including 1-1 with a 9.82 ERA at Tropicana Field.
Like Blackburn, Tampa Bay's Wade Davis (0-2, 4.38) has been given little offensive support in 2011. The right-hander has received an average 1.46 runs of support in his two outings.
He allowed two runs in six innings of a 4-2 loss at Chicago on Saturday.
"He's tough," White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski told the Rays' official website. "He changes speeds very well. He mixes up his pitches very well."
Though Davis has an 8.71 ERA in two starts versus Minnesota, he has yet to receive a decision.
