The Tampa Bay Rays started the month of July with a trip to the Minnesota Twins’ new ballpark, Target Field, looking very different from the team that fans saw for much of a lamentable June. The Rays won 5-4 while making a return to clutch hitting and signaling a return to the team that started the season so well.

After falling behind two runs early in the game, these Rays battled back, with Carl Crawford scoring on a two-out single by John Jaso on a 1-2 pitch in the fourth inning. With the first two men grounding out in the fifth, Ben Zobrist doubled and Crawford reached on an infield single. Evan Longoria reached on an error by shortstop Nick Punto, scoring Zobrist to cap an inning with all offensive production coming with two outs. The Rays got it going in the sixth inning as well, taking a 3-2 lead when Crawford’s base hit scored Sean Rodriguez.

Rays starting pitcher Jeff Niemann had some trouble early on, surrendering two runs on four hits in the second inning alone. He shored up his game like any great pitcher does when he sees his team battling for him on offense. Niemann then threw a hitless game into the seventh inning, allowing two bases on balls before giving up a solo homerun to former Devil Rays ne’er-do-well Delmon Young to tie the game at 3. Niemann’s start was rendered a no-decision with the tie score when he was pulled in the seventh.

This article appears in Jul 1-7, 2010.