In his second game since coming off the disabled list, center fielder B.J. Upton keyed the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins with 2 RBIs. In the sixth, Upton singled to shallow center, scoring both Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria to give the Rays a 2-0 lead. It would start a three-run inning.
Perhaps most impressive, though, was the performance from starter James Shields, who would last eight innings, striking out seven batters and giving up just one earned run in the victory — his third this season. Closer Fernando Rodney would come on for the ninth inning and record his fifth save of the season, striking out two.
The rubber-match will take place tomorrow at 1:40 p.m. EST. Minnesota had won Friday’s game 5-4 at Tropicana Field.
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