Off Topic » y Im in good form now, Luiten said. I just wish the te

MINNEAPOLIS -- This was a tough one for the Tampa Bay Rays to lose. With reigning Cy Young Award winner David Price on the mound facing a Minnesota team hadnt beaten them since last year, the Rays blew a three-run lead and wasted a chance to overtake Texas for the AL wild-card lead. Not exactly what the Rays wanted heading into a four-game series with the Rangers that opens Monday. "Weve had way too many missteps already this year. Thats whats got us in this position," Rays manager Joe Maddon said after watching Joel Peralta allow eighth-inning homers to Ryan Doumit and Josmil Pinto in a 6-4 loss Sunday. "We have played well enough to have a much better record. We havent closed the deal." Tampa Bay appeared on its way to a season sweep of the Twins after Wil Myers and Sean Rodriguez homered to build a 3-0 lead. With his team up 4-2 and two outs in the eighth, Peralta threw a first-pitch strike to Doumit. Next pitch: gone. Then Trevor Plouffe singled, Josh Willingham walked and Pinto followed by sending an 0-1 pitch into the Rays bullpen in centre field. By the time the rookie came out of the dugout for a curtain call following his second career homer and All-Star closer Glen Perkins came in from the bullpen, the cheering crowd had completely forgotten about how futile Price had made the Twins lineup look earlier. "This one hurts the most," Peralta said. "We really need these games. We need every game." Tampa Bay, which had won its previous three games, dropped to 7-14 since Aug. 25. The Rays remained tied with Texas for the two AL wild-card spots, a half-game ahead of Cleveland. Minnesota had lost 11 in a row to the Rays. "You go through funks like this, and hopefully were done with that one and we can move forward," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Peralta (2-8) blew a save for the third time in four chances, but his teammates and manager refused to criticize him. "Ill take Peralta any day," Price said. "I dont care what the score is, how many runs there are. That guy has been an absolute warrior for us. It was just a tough loss." Tampa Bay left the bases loaded twice. Delmon Young hit an inning-ending flyout in the fifth and Casey Fien (5-2) retired pinch-hitter David DeJesus on a bases-loaded flyout in the eighth. "We should have won that game easily," Maddon said. "We had plenty of opportunities to score more runs, so it wasnt just about giving up four in the eighth. We had our opportunities, and we have to continue to push and push and put runs on the board." Perkins pitched a perfect ninth for his 35th save in 39 chances. Price allowed two runs and six hit in 6 1-3 innings. Myers put Tampa Bay ahead in the fourth with a two-run homer off Pedro Hernandez that reached the middle deck in centre. Rodriguez homered leading off the fifth. Chris Parmalees two-run single off Jake McGee in the seventh ended Minnesotas season-high 25-inning scoreless streak. James Loney had an RBI single in the eighth. "Thats a game we need to win," Maddon said. NOTES: Pinto has a hit in eight of his 11 games with the Twins. ... Hernandez pitched five innings, allowing three runs, four hits and four walks. ... Tampa Bays winning streak against the Twins was tied for second-longest against an opponent in Rays history. ... Twins All-Star C Joe Mauer (concussion) will not make the teams upcoming trip to Chicago. ... The Rays are 12-4 at Target Field after going 17-31 at the Metrodome. ... The Rays Ben Zobrist went 2-for-5 to stop an 0-for-16 slump. ... Alex Cobb (8-3) starts for the Rays on Monday against former teammate Matt Garza (9-5). ... The Twins begin a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. Liam Hendriks (1-2) will start for Minnesota against Erik Johnson (0-2). 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Max Muncy Dodgers Jersey . -- The Minnesota Vikings released reserve cornerback A.NEWPORT, Wales - Joost Luiten overcame a shaky start to shoot a level-par 71 and hang on for a one-shot victory at the Wales Open on Sunday.Luiten opened with two straight bogeys but bounced back with three birdies on the back nine and then recovered from a poor tee shot on the 18th to make par for the victory. The Dutchman, who had led by two shots after the third round, finished with a 14-under total of 270.It was Luitens third European Tour victory and comes after he was overlooked as a captains pick for next weeks Ryder Cup in favour of Lee Westwood.I knew when the qualification ended I needed to play better so luckily Im in good form now, Luiten said. I just wish the team all the best and hopefully they can win.Englands Tommy Fleetwood (67) and Irelands Shane Lowry (7) shared second place. European Ryder Cup rookie Jamie Donaldson shot a 67 to share fourth place at 12-under par.In conntrast, Westwood struggled over the final day with five bogeys on the front nine, and added a double bogey on the 14th before closing with two late birdies for a 76.dddddddddddd He plummeted to a share of 60th place at 2 over.I needed to play some competitive golf and Ive done that, Westwood said. I hit a few good shots this week, not so good today, but I probably had one eye on next week. I dont think the concentration and the focus was there.Thomas Bjorn heads to his third Ryder Cup, and his first in 12 years as a player, after closing with a 74 and finishing just one shot ahead of Westwood.Its been a strange week, Bjorn said. I didnt play particularly well early on but played pretty well on the weekend, but didnt score that well with my putter letting me down. But if thats all I have to work on then thats pretty good for my concentration levels going into the Ryder Cup. ' ' '