uente and his players were determined to make the most of the Hokies first appearance in the title game in five years. And for a

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Joe Maddon says a solid stretch of play -- not a soft spot in the schedule -- has helped the Tampa Bay Rays get back into the AL East race. Chris Archer pitched six strong innings, while Matt Joyce and Kelly Johnson drove in two runs apiece to help the second-place Rays extend their winning streak to six games with a 4-1 victory over the sputtering Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night. The Rays matched their longest winning streak of the year, climbed a season-best 11 games over .500, and improved to 8-1 during a stretch of 14 consecutive games against the struggling Twins, Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros leading to the All-Star break. The Twins have lost nine of their last 10. "Were starting to play up to our capabilities," said Maddon, who shrugged off questions about Tampa Bays surge coming against teams with losing records. "We dont assume anything," the Rays manager said. "We arent looking at records. Were just playing." Archer (3-3) limited the Twins to an unearned run and three hits to outpitch fellow rookie Kyle Gibson (1-2), who was done in by one bad inning in his third career start for Minnesota. Joyce drove in two runs with a two-out, bases-loaded single that snapped a scoreless tie in the fourth, the outfielders first RBIs since June 15. Johnson followed with a two-run double for his first multi-RBI game since May 27 to give Archer all the support he would need. "The teams been playing really well the last couple of weeks and were starting to build a little confidence in each other," Joyce said. "Any big moment that comes up now, we have confidence in any guy in that position. ... I think thats how good teams win, and thats how they get on rolls like were on right now." The Rays starter yielded Joe Mauers first-inning double and singles by Trevor Plouffe and Chris Parmelee in the second. He retired 10 in a row before the Twins scored their only run without getting a hit, thanks to Brian Dozier being hit by a pitch, Archers two-base throwing error and Ryan Doumits sacrifice fly. Alex Torres, Jake McGee and Fernando Rodney each pitched a scoreless inning for the Rays, with Rodney getting the final three outs to finish a combined five-hitter and earn his 21st save. The Twins had two hits after the second inning -- singles by Mauer and Doumit leading off the ninth. Rodney struck out Justin Morneau, Plouffe and Oswaldo Arcia to end the game. "A tough night offensively for us," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Gibson, meanwhile, allowed four runs and four hits over six innings. He walked four and struck out three. It was the second straight loss for the 25-year-old right-hander, who beat Kansas City in his big league debut on June 29 before being roughed up five days later by the New York Yankees. Gibson limited the Rays to one baserunner through three innings, but ran into trouble after walking two batters to begin the fourth. James Loney drew a two-out walk to load the bases, and Joyce and Johnson followed with their big hits to dump the Twins into a 4-0 hole they couldnt escape with a sputtering offence. After going 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position while losing Mondays series opener 7-4, the Twins failed to take advantage a couple of early opportunities against Archer. They were 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position in the first two innings, then didnt have another batter reached base until Dozier was hit by a pitch leading off the sixth. Archers errant pickoff throw -- Tampa Bays first error in 10 games -- allowed Dozier to advance to third before Doumit delivered his sacrifice fly. "I thought Gibby threw the ball well all except one inning where he just lost the strike zone. I thought he settled in after that and went back out there for a couple more good innings. One bad inning un-done us," Gardenhire said. "Offensively early, we were banging some balls pretty hard. I thought we were hitting them on the screws at people, and their kid settled in there pretty decent. Did what he had to do, and got to the bullpen and they threw some really good arms at us there," Gardenhire added. "We all know Rodney, I think, is going to misfire a little bit, but hes got filthy stuff. We got him in a situation, but he made pitches when he had to." NOTES: Tampa Bay rookie OF Wil Myers, in a 5-for-31 slump, was out of the lineup for the first time since making his big league debut on June 18. With the Rays and Twins finishing up this series night game Wednesday followed by a Thursday matinee, Maddon said it was a logical day to give the young slugger a day off. ... Twins LHP Caleb Thielbar, whose grandmother died, will go on the bereavement list Thursday. He will rejoin the team this weekend and be eligible to pitch on Sunday against the New York Yankees. RHP Michael Tonkin will be recalled from Triple-A Rochester to fill Thielbars spot on the roster. ... Minnesota OF Josh Willingham (left knee) has started doing light exercises. ... Twins OF Wilkin Ramirez (concussion-like symptoms) is still having headaches. He has missed the past 40 games. ... Despite losing its top two home runs hitters (B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena) from last season to free agency, the Rays are on a pace to hit 182 homers -- seven more than in 2012. Colton Parayko Blues Jersey . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. Joe Mullen Blues Jersey . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. http://www.cheapbluesjerseys.info/ . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. Jaden Schwartz Jersey . LOUIS -- St. Ryan OReilly Blues Jersey .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. ORLANDO, Fla. -- Deshaun Watsons mission is not over.The Heisman Trophy hopeful and third-ranked Clemson Tigers are ready to return to the College Football Playoff and try to resolve some unfinished business from last season.Watson bolstered his candidacy for the sports biggest individual award by passing for three touchdowns and running for two more to lead the Tigers (12-1, No. 3 CFP) a 42-35 victory over No. 19 Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night.Winning consecutive league titles for the first time in 28 years likely will send coach Dabo Swinney and his players back to the four-team College Football Playoff for the second straight year, providing Watson with an opportunity to resolve unfinished business from last January , when the Tigers lost to Alabama in the national championship game.What a blessing to be a part of this journey, Swinney said, flanked by Watson. This guy is the best player in the country, and it isnt close.The Clemson star completed 23 of 34 passes for 288 yards, including TDs of 21 and 10 yards to Jordan Leggett and 15 yards to Hunter Renfrow for a 42-28 lead midway through the fourth quarter. He also rushed for 85 yards on 17 attempts for the Tigers. Theyve won back-to-back ACC titles for the first time since winning three straight from 1986-88.Watsons Virginia Tech counterpart, Jerod Evans, was just as impressive. The 6-foot-3, 238-pound ran for two touchdowns and rallied the Hokies from a 21-point deficit to make it close at the end.The Hokies (9-4, No. 23 CFP) scored on three straight possessions, trimming what was once a 35-14 deficit to seven points on Evans 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter and Cam Phillips 26-yard TD reception with just under 6 minutes remaining.Weve been there before. We were down 17 in the Notre Dame game and we were able to rally together to fight back, Hokies receiver Isaiah Ford said. So we were confident we could come back.Virginia Tech got the ball back with a chance to force overtime. Evans drove his team to the Clemson 23, where the drive stalled when Tigers cornerback Cordrea Tankersley intercepted a pass on fourth-and-6.They got here for a reason, Swinney said of Virginia Tech. We just couldnt put them away.Virginia Tech didnt take solace in playing Clemson close.They showed up here to win the ballgame. Its a pretty somber locker room because of that, coach Justin Fuente said.Obviously, we came up `a little short, but it wasnt because we werent out there competing, Fuente added. I think our kids poured their heart and soul into this and are going to learn some life lessons from this endeavor.SITE CHANGEThe game, originally scheduled to be played in Charlotte, N.C., drew a crowd of 500,628 -- about 20,000 shy of Camping World Stadiums listed capacity.dddddddddddd The ACC moved the event to Orlando because of North Carolina House Bill 2, a controversial law that limits legal protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.EVANS BIG NIGHTVirginia Tech QB Jerod Evans finished 21 of 35 for 264 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He rushed for 46 yards on 21 carries, and joined Travon McMillian in scoring two TDs on the ground. Meanwhile, Cam Phillips had 12 receptions for 92 yards, and Isaiah Ford had four catches for 89 yards while becoming the Hokies career leader in receiving yards.THE TAKEAWAYClemson: Its been a yearlong quest to get back to the CFP, and the Tigers survived every test with the exception of a 43-42 loss to Pittsburgh in early November -- a game in which the Tigers turned the ball over three times but still came within a fourth-and-1 conversion of winning. Watson was overshadowed early in the season, when ACC player of the year Lamar Jackson was posting gaudy statistics for Louisville, however the Clemson quarterbacks performance Saturday night added to the sterling resume hes put together for Heisman Trophy consideration .Virginia Tech: The Coastal Division winners werent just happy to be in the title game. Fuente and his players were determined to make the most of the Hokies first appearance in the title game in five years. And for a half, they kept it close, weathering Clemson scoring on its first three possessions to build a 21-7 lead. Even after being outgained 148 yards to minus-14 while falling behind by three TDs in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter, Evans rallied his team to make a game of it in the fourth quarter.DISQUALIFIEDClemson LB Dorian ODaniel was ejected in the opening quarter after being penalized for targeting on a high hit on Virginia Tech RB Sam Rogers, who was dropped for no gain on a pass reception. The call, along with Terrell Edmunds 20-yard reception on a fake punt play and a 15-yard pass interference penalty against Tankersley, fueled the Hokies first scoring drive, a 12-play, 77-yard march that McMillian finished his TD run.UP NEXT:Clemson: Awaits official word on a berth and seeding in the CFP, which begins with the national semifinals on Dec. 31.Virginia Tech: Will travel to a bowl game hoping to finish its season under Fuente with 10 wins for the first time since 2011. Fuente also would become the first coach in school history to win 10 games in his first season leading the Hokies.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . ' ' '