together. Thats adding a little bit of anxiety and urgency to their

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- While the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays sit at the bottom of the standings in the American League, both clubs enter Fridays series opener playing some decent baseball.The Twins (43-65) dropped a 9-2 decision to the Cleveland Indians on Thursday afternoon but won the first three games of the four-game series against the AL Central leaders.The Rays (44-63) have won two straight, rallying for three runs in the eighth inning Thursday to defeat the Kansas City Royals 3-2.By coming back and continuing to battle, I think were showing what kind of character we have on this team, said Rays shortstop Brad Miller, whose three-run homer wiped out a 2-0 deficit. This hasnt been an easy season, but the guys in this clubhouse continue to fight every game and play hard.Minnesota, meanwhile, is streaking behind the hot bat of catcher Joe Mauer. The 2009 AL Most Valuable Player was 10-for-18 (.556) with five doubles, a triple and a home run during the four-game series against the Indians. He finished a home run shy of a cycle Tuesday during a 13-5 win over Cleveland.Ive been really staying on that back leg, driving the ball, Mauer said. Ive been a little bit more sore, but its been feeling good getting results.For the Rays, it is Miller providing the big bat. He has homered in the past two games. The surge began days after Tampa Bay acquired third baseman Matt Duffy from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline with the plan of making him the full-time shortstop. Duffy is on the disabled list due to strained left Achilles.So while Miller will have to change positions, likely to first base, his bat will still be in the lineup.I dont think they have kept me in the lineup to do me any sort of favors, Miller said. Ive earned my spot and earned the opportunity to play every day. I played shortstop (Thursday), and thats what I prepared for. Ill have to play wherever they move me.The Rays will send rookie left-hander Blake Snell (3-4, 3.08 ERA) to the mound for the series opener Friday.Snell has pitched more than five innings in each of his past seven starts and has won two of his past three, including a 5-3 victory against the New York Yankees on Sunday. In that start, he matched his career high with nine strikeouts, and he yielded two runs in 5 1/3 innings.He will oppose the Twins for the first time in his career.Minnesota will counter with right hander Ervin Santana, who has made three quality starts in a row and five in his past six outings. Santana (4-9, 3.66 ERA) won his last start on Sunday, a 6-4 victory against the Chicago White Sox, giving up three runs (one earned) over six innings.Santana lost his only start against the Rays this season, giving up five runs over six innings in a 7-4 loss at Target Field in June 4. In 16 career starts against Tampa Bay, he is 6-7 with a 5.48 ERA. Milwaukee Brewers Store . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Milwaukee Brewers Pro Shop . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/ . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. Brewers Jerseys 2020 . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. Milwaukee Brewers Gear . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Raul Mondesi celebrated an unforgettable 21st birthday.Mondesi had two infield singles, leading to four runs and two pitchers throwing errors -- plus a protest by the Los Angeles Angels -- as the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 7-5 victory on Wednesday night.Mondesi had a bunt single for his first big league hit, with two runs scoring on the play on pitcher Matt Shoemakers throwing error in the seventh inning.This one I enjoy, Mondesi said of his birthday. Playing with these guys, this is amazing.Shoemaker, who did not allow a base runner until the fifth inning, yielded singles to Alex Gordon and Paulo Orlando to start the seventh. Mondesi, called up Tuesday, put down a bunt and beat the throw to first as the throw by Shoemaker (5-11) sailed into right field.Both runners scored and Mondesi wound up on third.Thats part of my game, Mondesi said of bunting. I like it. I enjoy bunting and with that throw we score two runs.Angels manager Mike Scioscia came out claiming interference, that Mondesi was not running within the lines, and after a 6 minute, 15 second review the call on the field was not changed. Scioscia officially protested the game.Royals manager Ned Yost said there is no way the protest would be upheld.You cant protest a judgmental call, Yost said. Ive never protested a game. Ive never been part of a game that was protested.Scioscia had a completely opposite viewpoint, saying he is 100 percent certain the protest would be upheld.Its not a judgement call, Scioscia said. I would not have protested if I was not 100 percent correct on this. This is a misinterpretation of a rule. It was very clear. Phil Cuzzi, the home plate umpire, had Mondesi running inside the line in jeopardy the whole way, and stated that its okay because he was stepping back toward the bag, which is wrong.Jarrod Dyson rifled a triple to right, scoring Mondesi and making all the runs earned. Dyson scored on Alcides Escobars sacrifice fly.Mondesi added a run-scoring infield single in a two-run eighth. The second run scored on pitcher Jose Alvarerzs throwing error.Joakim Soria (4-4) pitched a scoreless inniing for the win after replacing left-hander Danny Duffy in the seventh.dddddddddddd Duffy allowed three runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out five.Shoemaker was charged with five runs on eight hits in six-plus innings.Albert Pujols walked with the bases loaded with one out in the ninth and Andrelton Simmons singled in another run before Wade Davis struck out Jett Bandy to end the game.Gordon and Orlando each contributed three hits. Orlando had two doubles and a fifth-inning RBI.Jefry Marte had two doubles and a RBI for the Angels, while Johnny Giavotella had his second consecutive three-hit game.ROYALS MEETINGWith several Royals names surfacing in trade rumors, Yost addressed it in a team meeting. These guys are a real, real close group, Yost said. They know that this trade deadline (Monday) is bearing down on them. They dont want to see anybody leave that room. They want to see us all continue to stay together. Thats adding a little bit of anxiety and urgency to their game. But sometimes it can be a little too much. Theyre trying to make things happen, instead of letting things develop. Just catch your breath.OUTFIELD DEBUTGregorio Petit, who had only played the infield professionally, started in left field for the Angels. Were trying to get another right-handed bat in there and get Greg some at-bats, Scioscia said. Hes been working out there for the last two months.TRAINERS ROOMAngels: OF Shane Robinson (sprained right ankle) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Class-A Inland Empire in the California League.Royals: OF Lorenzo Cain (strained left hamstring) went 1 for 4 with a single and a strikeout while playing seven innings in right field.UP NEXTAngels: RHP Jered Weaver will start Thursday at Anaheim against the Red Sox, who will counter with LHP David Price.Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura, who lost to the Rangers on Saturday, will face them again Thursday in the opener of a four-game series at Arlington. LHP Cole Hamels will be the Texas starter. ' ' '