Hellickson tries to keep Rays rolling versus Twins

Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson aims for a fifth straight victory on Wednesday night when the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays host the Minnesota Twins in game three of a four-game series at Tropicana Field.

A former American League rookie of the year, Hellickson was 4-3 through his initial seven decisions of 2013 before starting the win streak on June 19 with a 6-2 defeat of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

He's since added victories over Toronto, Detroit and the Chicago White Sox, while combining to allow just four runs on 20 hits in 26 innings across the four wins.

Hellickson is 3-1 in four career starts against the Twins while posting a 4.26 earned run average in 25 1/3 innings, in which he's walked seven batters and struck out 15.

In 10 starts this season at Tropicana Field, the Iowa native is 5-1 with a 4.21 ERA.

The Twins send veteran righty Kevin Correia to the mound in search of his first win since June 19 and the 67th of his big-league career.

He improved to 6-4 on the season in his 14th start of 2013 when he allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings of a 7-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

He's 0-2 with a no-decision in three starts since while allowing 11 runs on 22 hits in 17 innings against Miami, Kansas City and Toronto.

Correia got a no-decision in one career start against the Rays after allowing three hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings.

On Tuesday, Chris Archer pitched six solid innings and the Rays defeated the Twins, 4-1.

Archer (3-3) allowed just one unearned run on three hits and struck out two. He has not lost a decision since June 18 against the Red Sox. Fernando Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his 21st save.

Matt Joyce and Kelly Johnson drove in two runs apiece for the Rays, who have won a season-high six straight and 10 of their last 11 games.

Ryan Doumit drove in the lone run for the Twins, who have lost nine of their last 10 games. Starter Kyle Gibson (1-2) gave up all four runs on four hits and four walks over six frames.

The Rays won five of six games with the Twins in 2012 and have won the season series in each of the last three years. The teams split evenly in 2008 and 2009, and Minnesota hasn't won a season series with Tampa Bay since 2006.