Twins Vs. Rays: Johnny Damon Helps Tampa Bay Walk Off Again, 4-3

For the second time in three days, the Minnesota Twins' bullpen couldn't preserve a ninth-inning lead and Tampa Bay's Johnny Damon delivered a game-winning hit in the Rays' 4-3 triumph.

Thursday night, it was a two-run homer against Matt Capps in the bottom of the ninth. Saturday afternoon, it was a two-out single off Jose Mijares that chased home B.J. Upton with the winning run. Not that the loss was all Mijares' fault. Minnesota's Matt Capps relieved starter Scott Baker in the eighth, and eventually gave up a two-out RBI single to Matt Joyce that cut the Twins' lead to 3-2. And in the bottom of the ninth, Ben Zobrist led off with a game-tying home run off Twins closer Joe Nathan.

Nathan next issued walks to Upton and Casey Kotchman, then retired John Jaso on a fly ball. Despite having thrown only 16 pitches, Nathan was then lifted for Mijares, who struck out pinch-hitter Elliott Johnson and walked Sam Fuld to load the bases before Johnny Damon slapped his game-winning single to right field.

The failure of Minnesota's bullpen wasted a fine performance by Scott Baker, who gave up just four hits and one walk in his seven innings. Meanwhile, the Rays' revamped bullpen continued its brilliant performance, with Juan Cruz pitching a scoreless ninth to pick up the victory.

Sunday afternoon, the Twins, desperate to avoid the four-game series sweep, will send Brian Duensing to the mound, with rookie Jeremy Hellickson going for the Rays.

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