MINNEAPOLIS -- Not even the All-Star break could cool off the Tampa Bay Rays. Mark Grace Jersey . Ben Zobrist homered and Evan Longoria had three RBIs to lead the Rays to a 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night. Alex Cobb (5-6) allowed two runs in 5 2-3 innings and Matt Joyce added an RBI single as the Rays continue playing themselves back into contention and impressing manager Joe Maddon. "We pretty much picked up where we did leave it off at the All-Star break," Maddon said. "We were crispy, man. That felt good." Trevor Plouffe homered for the Twins, a two-run shot in the third highlighted by a fan leaning over the railing in left-centre and making a great catch. Tampa Bay took a 3-0 lead in the third on Longorias bases-loaded double that soared just beyond the reach of right fielder Oswaldo Arcia. "Thats what really can start to breed confidence," said Longoria, who was hitting just .220 in July before Friday. "It was a good time right there for me to be able to do that and have a renewed slate, so to speak, in the second half." The Twins could have escaped the inning with minimal damage, but a come-backer off the bat of Desmond Jenning ricocheted off the glove of starting pitcher Kyle Gibson (8-8), ruining a possible double play. Zobrist walked and Longoria cleared the bases after Joyce popped out. "If I field my position there in the third inning and get a double play, or if it turns out if I let the ball go, (Brian) Doziers right up in the middle in his shift, its a double play and the defence gets me out of the inning," he said. After Plouffes home run, Zobrist made it 5-2 in the fifth with a two-run homer off Gibson that bounced off the top of the limestone overhang in right field. Both teams need to get off to a hot start in the second half if they want to contend for a playoff spot instead of trade away veterans before the deadline. The Rays had a losing record at the All-Star break for the first time since 2007, but won 11 of 15 heading into the break. Since 2010, Tampa Bay holds the best record in baseball after the All-Star break. Even though it was only a single game in July, Cobb felt it was really important for the Rays to come back after some time off with a win. "It definitely starts that momentum that we need to get going," he said. "Were going in the right direction." With the state silhouette still mowed in the centre-field grass, Minnesota played its first game back at Target Field after hosting the All-Star game on Tuesday. The Twins added Kendrys Morales in early June to bolster their offence and try to remain in contention, but have faltered since. They did win five of their last six before the break and kicked off a 10-game homestand Friday. NOTES: Minnesota activated rookie IF/OF Danny Santana and sent reserve OF Chris Herrmann to Triple-A Rochester before the game. ... The Rays called up C Curt Casali from Triple-A Durham and transferred OF Wil Myers from the 15- to the 60-day disabled list. Casali led off the third and lined a single for his first major-league hit. ... Twins GM Terry Ryan said 1B Joe Mauer is "making steady progress" from an oblique strain, but has not resumed batting activities. ... David Price (9-7, 3.23 ERA), whos been in Minneapolis all week as the Rays lone All-Star and is a possible trade piece if the Rays are out of contention, faces Phil Hughes (10-5, 3.92) Saturday night. Alex Avila Jersey . -- The Phoenix Coyotes have won three in a row for the first time in 4 1/2 months, and theyve done it just in time for the stretch run to the playoffs. Koji Uehara Jersey . Right-hander Todd Redmond took the loss. Jose Bautista hit his second home run of the spring. Here are a handful of tidbits from around camp: Hutchison impressive The Blue Jays are being cautious when talking about their young arms but internally, excitement is building over the way Drew Hutchison is looking and performing this spring. http://www.authenticcubsteamproshop.com/cubs-kosuke-fukudome-jersey/ . Moors, from Cambridge Ont., landed a double-twisting, double somersault in the layout position, en route to a score of 14.600 points in the womens floor exercise, more than a full point ahead of runner-up Pia Tolle of Germany.SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Aldon Smith might not have the intimidating and impressive sack numbers of past seasons in his abbreviated year, yet he judges his play by more than just flattening opposing quarterbacks.Smith believes he has done well applying pressure since returning from a nine-game suspension that has made it tough for him to gain much momentum on an ever-changing, beat-up 49ers defence.Ive been making plays, havent been getting sacks but getting pressure, Smith said. I feel good. Still making plays, still making it hard for the quarterback to throw and creating havoc in the backfield.Defensive co-ordinator Vic Fangio, who called Smith rusty when he returned last month, has spoken of Smiths inconsistencies on the pass rush at times. Pressuring the quarterback has regularly been a problem, and the 49ers (7-7) will have to contend with San Diegos Philip Rivers on Saturday night.Smith has 12 tackles and two sacks in five games, four starts.Theres a lot more to the job than just sacks. I mean, setting an edge, drops into coverage, physical against the run in the tackles, coach Jim Harbaugh said Thursday. I think hes done a very good job and (it has) been good for everybody to have him back out there.Finishing with a winning season, not chasing a Super Bowl ring as so many of the 49ers planned, is what the season has come to with two games left.It is different, this is my first year not being in the playoffs after having an extra couple games, Smith said. So, its different, but take advantage of this time and when its time to start, be ready.Smith missed the first nine games this season for violations of the NFLs substance-abuse and personal-conduct policies. That came after a five-game absence last year to undergo treatment following his September 2013 DUI arrest. The 25-year-old Smith was also arrested April 13 at Los Angeles International Airport. Police said Smith was randomly selected for a secondary screening and became unco-operative with the process, telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb. No charges were filed.He hopes to finally put all of that behind him. Away from the field, Smith said he believes hess now on the right track. Steve Cishek Jersey. feel like Ive done what I needed to do, Smith said.The 49ers picked up Smiths option for 2015, though they will certainly be no-nonsense when it comes to his behaviour — or anybody elses for that matter — going forward.We talk to our players often about respect, accountability, character, what that means, general manager Trent Baalke said Wednesday. Were a big part of this community, and we expect a lot from our players. We have high expectations. And, for the most part, they live up to those expectations. In certain instances, they dont. And when they dont, you try to deal with it and help them the best you can. Sometimes, we have been judged to maybe give them too much leeway. I think thats a little bit harsh, but at the same time I understand that because I understand what the logo means, the shield means, both at the NFL level and the San Francisco 49ers.Smith, for one, hopes to be playing alongside fearsome defensive lineman Justin Smith for another year. Justin Smith hasnt said whether he will return for a 15th NFL season in 2015.I just hope we can end it on a strong note. Its good to play with him and if hes here next year, thats good, Aldon Smith said. If hes not, then Im sure hell be happy retired.Fangio has joked about flying to Missouri to talk Justin Smith into another year.If I was the D-coordinator, I would, too. ... If I was Vic Fangio, Id do the same thing, safety Antoine Bethea said. Thats his decision with his family. Obviously whatever he decides, helluva career, lot of respect for him as a player, as a man.Aldon and Justin Smith are two players opponents must consider on every snap, even with all the other mixing and matching through injuries on the defence.I still think the two Smiths, those guys are awesome players, Rivers said.Notes: Harbaugh expects RB Frank Gore to play Saturday after he has responded well following a concussion last week. ... Tony Jerod-Eddie is slated to start in place of DL Ray McDonald, who was released Wednesday amid a sexual assault investigation.___Online:AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '