Radke Has Nice Homecoming

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Brad Radke enjoys pitching before the home folks.

He gave up one run over eight innings as the Minnesota Twins ended a six-game losing streak, defeating the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 2-1, Tuesday night.

“Coming back home and pitching in front of the home crowd is really great,” said Radke, who attended Jesuit High School in nearby Tampa. “I don’t know if I was really up. We got in late and I was a little lazy out there. I think the team was a little tired.”

Radke (4-2) gave up six hits, struck out five and walked three, and did not allow a runner past first base after the third inning.

“I thought he pitched a whale of a ballgame for us. Brad really picked the staff up,” Minnesota manager Tom Kelly said. “When you’re struggling like we have the last four or five days, you come to appreciate a well-pitched game.”

Radke has won both his starts at Tropicana Field. He gave up two runs and struck out 11 in a nine-hitter on April 14, 1998.

Rick Aguilera got three out for his sixth save in eight chances. The Twins are 7-6 on the road, but only 5-15 in the Metrodome.

“I really think there’s less distractions for the players on the road,” Kelly said. “I’m not saying we’re going to play lights out on the road by any stretch of the imagination, but I think it’s going to be a little easier for this team in particular. There’s an awful lot of stuff going on at home.”

Devil Ray starter Ryan Rupe (0-1), who gave up four homers to Kansas City last Wednesday in his debut, kept the Twins hitless until Marty Cordova tripled off the top of the right field wall with two out in the fourth. Cordova was stranded when Doug Mientkiewicz flied out.

Walker, who had only three hits in his previous 22 at-bats, tied the score at 1 with his double. Allen, who was Rupe’s roommate at Texas A&M;, put the Twins ahead on his single.

Rupe gave up two runs and four hits over seven innings, struck out seven and walked two.

Fred McGriff’s RBI double put the Devil Rays ahead, 1-0, in the first inning. He has a seven-game hitting streak.

The Devil Rays were one for seven with runners in scoring position during the first three innings.

AROUND THE LEAGUE / Indians Lose Sandy Alomar

Cleveland catcher Sandy Alomar will miss two games after having a lubricant injected into his left knee. He had surgery on the knee during the off-season. The Indians did receive good news as Paul Shuey was activated from the 15-day DL. Shuey, who pitched the ninth inning Tuesday, had been sidelined with a strained left hamstring.