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  Tuesday, Aug. 8 7:15pm ET
Lopez shuts out Twins with 4-hitter
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Albie Lopez scattered four hits in his first shutout in six years as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 5-0 Tuesday night.

Lopez (9-8), in his third complete game of the season, pitched his first shutout since Aug. 4, 1994, and second of his career. The right-hander, who has gone at least seven innings in six straight starts, struck out three and walked three.

The Devil Rays scored all of their runs, highlighted by John Flaherty's two-run homer, with two outs in the fifth to win for the ninth time in 13 games.

Jose Guillen snapped a scoreless tie with a two-run triple. Steve Cox, in a 1-for-27 slump, added an RBI ground-rule double. Flaherty followed with a two-run homer off Brad Radke.

Lopez made his 14th start after 152 consecutive relief appearances, and pitched his fourth career complete game. He is 7-4 since joining the starting rotation May 28.

Among AL pitchers with a minimum of 13 starts, only Boston's Pedro Martinez (1.42) had a lower ERA than Lopez (3.55).

Radke (8-12) gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings. Radke, who went to high school in nearby Tampa, had allowed just four earned runs in 26 previous innings at Tropicana Field.

Lopez started the game with two perfect innings before Torii Hunter opened the third with a double. Hunter was later doubled off third on Danny Ardoin's one-out liner to short.

The Twins had two on with two outs in the sixth, but Lopez worked out of trouble by retiring Matt Lawton on a grounder. He duplicated the feat in the seventh by inducing an inning-ending grounder from Jacque Jones.

Game notes
Lopez, while with the Cleveland Indians, blanked the Detroit Tigers for his only other shutout. ... The Devil Rays held a promotion that allowed real twins or dress-alike twins to purchase 2-for-1 tickets in certain sections. The Arena Twins sang the national anthem. ... Lawton, limited to pinch-hitting duties the past week because of a sprained toe, returned to the starting lineup. ... Tampa Bay 1B Fred McGriff has gone 71 at-bats in 21 games since his last homer. He has just one extra-base hit in the past 13 games. ... Hunter has 11 hits in 20 at-bats during a six-game hitting streak. ... Tampa Bay SS Felix Martinez snapped an 0-for-17 slump with an infield single in the second.
 


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RECAPS
Seattle 12
Chi. White Sox 4

Seattle 7
Chi. White Sox 5

(2nd game)

Texas 11
Cleveland 2

Detroit 4
Baltimore 1

NY Yankees 4
Oakland 3

Tampa Bay 5
Minnesota 0

Toronto 6
Kansas City 1

Anaheim 2
Boston 1

Atlanta 5
Cincinnati 4

Philadelphia 10
San Diego 4

Houston 9
NY Mets 3

Florida 7
St. Louis 0

Colorado 6
Pittsburgh 1

Montreal 9
Arizona 3

Los Angeles 7
Chicago Cubs 5

San Francisco 1
Milwaukee 0