MINNEAPOLIS -- Evan Longoria is back on the field, and the Tampa Bay Rays are back in the AL East race. . Jeff Keppinger hit tiebreaking grounder after the All-Star third baseman was intentionally walked in a four-run, 10th inning, and the Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 7-3 Sunday to improve to 6-0 since Longoria returned from a three-month layoff. "I believe in all these guys," manager Joe Maddon said. "I like the energy with which were playing." Tampa Bay swept consecutive three-game series against Toronto and the Twins, the first time the Rays swept opponents back-to-back since April 12-19, 2010, at Baltimore and Boston. The Rays sent Minnesota to its fifth straight loss, matched their longest winning streak this season and are five games behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees, the closest Tampa Bay has been to first place since the morning of June 26. Longoria missed 85 games because of a partially torn left hamstring and hasnt found his power swing yet, hitting .261 (6 for 23) with a double and four RBIs in his return -- all as a designated hitter. Luke Scott (right oblique) is likely coming back from the disabled list this week, and pitcher Jeff Niemann is on an injury rehabilitation assignment for the reviving Rays. Tampa Bay, which improved to 4-4 in extra innings this season, broke a 3-all tie after Desmond Jennings singled off Alex Burnett (4-4) leading off the 10th and stole second. B.J. Upton walked and Ben Zobrist sacrificed Jennings to third. After the walk to Longoria loaded the bases, Jeff Keppinger bounced to shortstop Brian Dozier, who appeared to have time to throw home for a forceout or to second in an attempt for a double play. Instead, he threw to first as Tampa Bay took the lead. "Everybody has an opinion on where he should have thrown the ball, but Im going to back my player here," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He did what he thought was right." Dozier wanted to play it safe. "A smart infielder makes sure he gets one out right there," he said. "Every shortstop in the league wouldve done the same thing." Tampa Bay, which overcame three errors, was pleased at the break. "Its good to have one every once in a while," Jennings said. "I thought he was going to try to turn a double play." Tyler Robertson relieved and hit Carlos Pena with a pitch, reloading the bases. Ryan Roberts followed with a two-run single off Casey Fien, his third hit of the game, and pinch-hitter Matt Joyce singled in a run. Kyle Farnsworth (1-3) worked around a one-out single in the ninth for first win since Aug. 21 against Seattle, and Fernando Rodney retired his only batter for his league-leading 36th save in 37 attempts. Tampa Bay starter James Shields tied his season low with just two strikeouts, allowing three runs -- two earned -- and five hits in seven innings. He twice stranded runners who reached third with one out. "Today was a grind," he said. "Our defence wasnt there, but weve had good defence since the (All-Star) break and are playing well." Minnesota starter Scott Diamond allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings, matching his season highs with two walks and two home runs allowed. Jennings hit his third career leadoff homer for Tampa Bay and Keppinger homered in the second for a 2-0 lead. Keppingers error allowed Josh Willingham to reach in the bottom half, and Justin Morneaus two-run homer tied the score. Denard Span doubled and scored in the third, then left in the seventh with right shoulder pain, an inning after his diving attempt on a ball by Keppinger that wound up as a double. X-rays showed no damage and the Twins said he is day to day. Consecutive doubles by Roberts and Sean Rodriguez tied the score in the fifth. NOTES: Longoria could receive his first day off since his return on Monday at Seattle. Maddon said he will wait to decide on Longorias availability. ... Roberts had his first three-hit game since June 8 while with Arizona. ... Tampa Bay will continue its 10-game trip Monday with RHP Alex Cobb (6-8, 4.32 ERA) opposing RHP Blake Beavan (7-6, 5.12 ERA). ... RHP Samuel Deduno (3-0, 3.27 ERA) will start Monday for the Twins as they open a three-game series against visiting Detroit, which counters with RHP Anibal Sanchez (6-9, 4.37 ERA). ... 3B Trevor Plouffe, on the DL (right thumb) since July 21, is expected to return from his rehab assignment and rejoin Minnesota on Monday. ... Twins RHP Matt Capps, out since July 17 with rotator cuff inflammation, will undergo an MRI on his right shoulder Monday. Capps hopes to resume throwing Wednesday and pitch again for the Twins in early September. 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Nelson also said that Nugent-Hopkins will decide by next Monday whether or not he will play for Team Canada at the upcoming World Junior Championship. "It is contingent on his health.KIEV, Ukraine -- After two hours of clever, often dominating but in the end fruitless play, Italy found the answer against England. Penalty kicks. Alessandro Diamanti scored the decisive kick Sunday to send Italy through to the European Championship semifinals with a 4-2 win in the shootout following a 0-0 tie with England. Italy will next play Germany in the semifinals on Thursday in Warsaw, Poland. Defending champion Spain plays Portugal on Wednesday in Donetsk, Ukraine. "We deserved this victory," Diamanti said. "The penalties rewarded our dominance during the match. Its only fair, we played a great match and battled from the first to the last minute." But not until penalties by Mario Balotelli, Andrea Pirlo -- with an audacious slow chip-shot down the middle of the goal -- and Antonio Nocerino did the Azzurri find the net. Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney scored Englands penalties. The difference: Ashley Young hit the crossbar with Englands third, and Ashley Coles attempt was saved by Gianluigi Buffon. For England, it was yet another exit from a major tournament in the quarterfinals after a penalty shootout. England lost to Portugal in the same manner at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup. "Its obviously a hard way to go out," England striker Wayne Rooney said. "And its maybe happened too many times now." England briefly led the shootout after Riccardo Montolivo missed Italys second penalty. His shot went wide of Joe Harts right post as the England goalkeeper guessed correctly. Rooney then sent Buffon the wrong way, firing in his spot kick to the keepers right to give England a 2-1 lead. The momentum shifted after Pirlos bold piece of skill levelled it 2-2. "I just saw that the goalkeeper was moving a bit earlier so I decided to play it the other way," Pirlo said. "It just comes to you at that moment and it went well." Not for England. "We have done the country proud, but again we go home with heartbreak and its difficult to take," said Gerrard, who played in both those previous shootout losses. The match ended 0-0 after 120 minutes of play. The Italians twice hit the post, but were also let down by poor composure in front of the net. Diamanti cliipped the post with a curling cross in the 101st minute, and swept a shot wide in the clearest chance of the second period of extra time. [url=http://www.buccaneersofficialteamstore.com/autographed-gabe-carimi-jersey-c... Carimi Jersey. Nocerino, another substitute, thought he had scored from Diamantis cross in the 115th but was offside. Daniele De Rossi hit the post in the third minute, and Buffon saved a shot from Glen Johnson in the fifth. The first scoreless match at Euro 2012 was neither dull nor lacking good soccer. Italys attacking desire and creativity under coach Cesare Prandelli had playmaker Pirlo at its heart. Italy had 35 shots, compared to only nine for England. An intriguing match almost demanded that Balotelli take centre stage. The Italy forward ran clear in the 25th, but hesitated and allowed John Terry to block his chipped shot. Balotelli forced Hart, his teammate at Manchester City, to save an acrobatic shot, then surged between Englands central defenders before putting a half-volley over the crossbar. He kicked the goal post in frustration. Italy continued surging in the second half and De Rossi, taking a ball over his shoulder, scuffed his shot wide. De Rossi sank to his knees in obvious exasperation, and more Italian frustration quickly followed. Three rapid-fire chances in the 52nd saw Hart beat away De Rossis long-range shot, block Balotellis follow-up and watch Montolivo lash the loose ball high. England coach Roy Hodgson had to react to Italys dominance, and sent on substitutes Andy Carroll and Theo Walcott, who both scored in a 3-2 win over Sweden. Carrolls muscular presence created a shooting chance for Young, but England still failed to convince. Rooney made little impression after an early diving header. De Rossi was replaced by Nocerino and the substitute threatened in the 89th. He took another crafty pass from Pirlo on the run, but Johnson tracked back to block. Deep into injury time, Italian defensive jitters created a chance for Rooney but his overhead kick sailed high. Then it was on to penalties. And Diamantes heroics. "Getting to this point is a huge satisfaction," Diamanti said. "I always believed I would, even when I played in the inter-regional division -- I just never told anyone, because they would have thought I was crazy." ' ' '