Rays/MLB

Up next: Twins

By TOM JONES
Published September 4, 2006

UP NEXT: TWINS

WHAT'S NEW: The Twins come into Tropicana Field in the middle of a tight pennant race. They are battling the White Sox for an American League wild-card spot and have an outside shot at catching the Tigers for the Central Division crown, but time is running out on that. The race likely will come down to the final series of the season, when the Twins host the White Sox for three games.

INJURIES: The Twins are without three key players. Pitcher Brad Radke and sensational rookie Francisco Liriano are missing from the rotation. Radke, a Tampa native, is out with a shoulder injury, and Liriano is sidelined with an elbow injury. Liriano threw a bullpen session Saturday and felt no pain. The Twins are hoping both can return by the end of the season. Outfielder Shannon Stewart has a left foot injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season.

KEEP IN MIND: Since June 8, the Twins have the league's best record and have outscored opponents by more than 100 runs. Going into Sunday, they had the league's best batting average (.297) and on-base percentage (.306) since June 8. Joe Mauer, who leads the American League in hitting, is trying to become only the third catcher in the modern era to win a batting title and the first since 1942.

WHO'S HOT: Justin Morneau has hits in 14 of the past 17 games and in 40 of 49 since the All-Star break. Since June 22, Morneau's .371 average is third in the majors. . . . Johan Santana, who starts Tuesday, has won seven consecutive decisions and has not lost since July 9.

WHO'S NOT: Centerfielder Torii Hunter is batting .172 over his past eight games.

SERIES: The Twins lead 4-0, having swept a four-game series in Minnesota in July. Overall, the Twins lead 42-28 and are 16-15 at Tropicana Field.

TWINS STATISTICS

BATTERS AVG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB

Mauer 350 437 68 153 29 4 10 73 65

Redmond .343 143 17 49 11 0 0 20 2

Bartlett .336 235 34 79 17 2 1 22 19

Morneau .318 481 75 153 29 0 33 114 42

Tyner .307 163 24 50 3 1 0 11 14

Punto .303 343 60 104 20 5 1 36 44

Castillo .294 493 77 145 19 5 3 45 41

Stewart .293 174 21 51 5 1 2 21 14

Cuddyer .278 446 80 124 34 5 20 91 110

Hunter .269 442 65 119 17 2 22 70 92

Kubel .246 211 22 52 8 0 8 26 43

Rodriguez .225 102 10 23 3 0 2 5 13

Ford .223 211 35 47 6 1 3 15 38

Nevin .214 182 26 39 8 0 9 41 25

White .214 262 26 56 10 1 4 28 42

Totals .285 4619 664 1315 231 29 120 630 717

PITCHERS W L ERA Sv IP ER BB SO

Reyes 4 0 0.86 0 42.0 4 10 38

Neshek 3 0 1.05 20 25.2 3 34 37

Nathan 6 0 1.77 28 56.0 35 10 77

Liriano 12 3 2.19 27 119.0 29 32 142

Rincon 3 1 2.61 1 62.0 18 18 58

Santana 16 5 2.95 0 198.1 65 40 207

Guerrier 0 0 2.98 0 48.1 16 17 27

Crain 3 5 4.08 1 64.0 29 16 53

Radke 12 9 4.46 0 157.1 78 30 82

Garza 1 3 5.06 0 21.1 12 6 15

Bonser 3 5 5.17 0 62.2 36 17 54

Eyre 1 0 5.33 0 52.1 31 18 22

Baker 4 7 6.55 0 68.2 50 14 56

Silva 8 13 6.56 0 145.1 106 25 59

Totals 78 56 4.10 31 1189.2 542 285 974

[Last modified September 4, 2006, 05:28:41]