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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Fred McGriff found the cure for his power
loss: The Minnesota Twins.
"I was just trying to be aggressive, and fortunately it
worked," McGriff said after homering Tuesday night in the Tampa
Bay Devil Rays' 3-2 victory.
McGriff's homer, which came in the fourth inning, was just his
second in 116 at-bats. The other was on Aug. 9 against Minnesota's
Eric Milton.
"Their guy was throwing the ball well all night long, but he
hung me a curve or something and I got a hit on it," McGriff said.
McGriff has 21 homers this season, 411 in his career. It was his
first homer on the road since July 9.
Bobby Smith also homered as the Devil Rays won their third
straight, winning consecutive games against left-handed starters
for the first time since the team began play in 1998.
Ryan Rupe (5-4) struck out eight in a season-high seven innings,
giving up four hits. Billy Taylor got three outs on four pitches in
the eighth, and Roberto Hernandez got three outs to finish the
five-hitter. It was the 24th save in 30 chances for Hernandez, who
allowed Matt Lawton's leadoff homer in the ninth.
"Statistically, that was my best outing," said Rupe, recalled
from Triple-A Durham on July 9. "I don't think that I threw my
best stuff, but I worked with it really well."
Twins starter J.C. Romero (2-3) gave up four hits in 7 1/3
innings, but two of the hits were home runs.
"I left the ball up only a couple times, but paid for it,"
Romero said. "Basically, I was pleased with my outing, but at this
level, you're not allowed to make mistakes."
Smith hit his fifth homer of the season in the second inning,
and Tampa Bay increased its lead in the fourth, helping by an error
from second baseman Jay Canizaro.
Greg Vaughn led off with a grounder to second and reached when
Canizaro's throw pulled Ron Coomer off first. McGriff then homered.
David Ortiz's homer in the fourth homer cut Tampa Bay's lead to
3-1.
"Ortiz hit (Rupe) well, but nobody was on base for him,"
Lawton said.
Game notes
When the Devil Rays opened the season in Minnesota, only 11
of the 25 players on their current active roster were with the
team. ... Tampa Bay 2B Miguel Cairo, who didn't start Tuesday's
game, is leading the major leagues in hitting with runners in
scoring position with a .419 batting average. ... The Twins signed
C Joey Hamer, their 25th-round draft pick. They have signed 27 of
52 picks.
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Baseball Scoreboard
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
Minnesota Clubhouse
RECAPS
Anaheim 11
Boston 4
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