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. Curtis DeLoatch Jersey Retro . Bryant, who signed a five-year, $34 million contract as a free agent with Cleveland in March, reported symptoms on Monday morning, a team spokesman said. Walt Merrill Jersey Retro . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. https://www.cheapjerseyslines.com/blake-countess-jersey-retro/ .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. Les Dodson Jersey Retro . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. Ray Neal Jersey Retro .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. PHILADELPHIA -- Up until the start of Saturdays game, it seemed unlikely that Joel Embiid would play at all.He ended up having the best game of his short NBA career.Fighting through a sprained left ankle, Embiid scored a career-high 26 points in 20 minutes, and the Philadelphia 76ers routed the Phoenix Suns 120-105 for their most convincing win of the season.I felt great, Embiid said. When you play, you dont really pay attention to those kind of things. During the game, I was fine. Even now, its fine.Nik Stauskas added a season-high 21 points on 8-for-9 shooting for the Sixers, who have split their last six games after starting the season with seven straight losses. Sergio Rodriguez had eight points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.Eric Bledsoe led Phoenix (4-10) with 27 points. The Suns have lost three of their first four on their six-game road trip.You give any team confidence at home and they can get rolling, Suns coach Earl Watson said. They have a lot of confidence here. The crowd was energetic and Embiid in limited minutes was more than effective.Embiid was 3 for 5 from 3-point range and 9 for 14 from the field overall. He also grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots, including a ferocious one on Devin Booker in the second quarter that got the crowd roaring.The 7-foot-2 center, playing in just his ninth NBA game after a pair of foot surgeries sidelined him for his first two seasons, reached his career high on a jumper with 8:30 left.After a three-point play from Bledsoe got Phoenix within six midway through the third quarter, the Sixers reeled off a 10-0 run to open an 82-66 lead. They led by double figures the rest of the way against a banged-up Phoenix team playing the second end of a back-to-back.We got stops, we made some shots and we took off again, Sixers coach Brett Brown said.Embiid and Booker were game-time decisions due to sprained ankles. Each of them started and Embiid, hurt two nights earlier, jumped all over the Suns, scoring Phillys first eight points and 10 in the first three minutes, including a ppair of 3-pointers.ddddddddddddLater in the first quarter, Embiid had eight points in a 10-0 run that helped Philadelphia to a 31-17 advantage, capping the spurt with his third 3 from the top of the key.Thats what makes him so tough to stop, Stauskas said. Obviously hes a dominant force down low but sometimes the bigs arent willing to step up to the line to guard him. And hes making people pay right now with that top-of-the-key 3-pointer.Booker finished with 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting.TIP-INSSuns: The Suns were without T.J. Warren (illness) and Tyson Chandler (mothers funeral). ... Phoenix recalled rookie forward Derrick Jones Jr. from D-League affiliate Northern Arizona before the game.76ers: After shooting 1 for 5 from the field, slumping sharpshooter Robert Covington has missed 27 of his last 31 shots, leading to plenty of boos from the crowd. ... The Sixers have won three straight at home, but dropped their last 21 on the road -two away from matching a franchise record.THE EMBIID PROCESSEmbiid, who already has missed four games this season as the Sixers slowly ease him back, was limited to 24 minutes or less. Jahlil Okafor, who platoons with him at center, was under the same minutes restriction because of knee surgery last season.I hope to play those two together, Brown said. With the minutes restriction, its kind of impossible right now.BOOKER GUTS IT OUTWatson said Booker struggled after returning from his own ankle injury. But the Suns coach was impressed that the second-year rising star was able to play at all.He gave us all he had, Watson said. He knew he wanted to play because we didnt have T.J. He sacrificed his body. Thats just the type of person he is. You could see he could barely move.BOMBS AWAYThe Sixers matched a franchise record with 17 3-pointers.UP NEXTSuns: Visit Washington on Monday.76ers: Host Miami on Monday night. The Heat have won five straight against Philadelphia. ' ' '