Recap: Tampa Bay vs. Minnesota
Sports Network | September 19, 2008
St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Carlos Pena had a three-run homer thanks to a replay reversal, and Edwin Jackson threw into the eighth inning as Tampa Bay routed Minnesota, 11-1, in the second of four games with the Twins.
Pena's homer, in the fourth inning, was the first reversal handed down after the instant replay system was instituted earlier this season. Pena finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk and four runs batted in.
Jackson (12-11) gave up just one run on seven hits and a walk in 7 2/3 innings, with five strikeouts for the Rays, who maintained their 1 1/2-game lead in the AL East. Boston edged Toronto, 4-3, on Friday to keep pace. Tampa, however, did trim its magic number to nine.
Evan Longoria doubled and drove in three for the Rays, who have won three of four.
Twins starter Nick Blackburn (10-10) was roughed up for six runs on six hits and three walks in 1 1/3 frames, while Boof Bonser gave up the Pena homer in 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Joe Mauer drove in the lone run for Minnesota, which entered Friday trailing the AL Central-leading White Sox by 1 1/2 games. Chicago plays Kansas City on Friday.
