The Minnesota Twins (52-27) knocked off the Tampa Bay Rays (45-35) on Wednesday night in Minneapolis.
The Twins struck first off Charlie Morton and the Rays, as Minnesota picked up three runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a pair of RBI singles. The Rays started to answer early, though, as Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run blast in the top of the second inning to pull within 3-2. That would remain the score until the sixth inning, when Tommy Pham blasted a solo shot to tie the game.
It appeared the Rays would be in position to take control when Willy Adames hit a home run in the seventh inning to give Tampa Bay a 4-3 lead - for Adames, it was his ninth home run of the season (all of them on the road) as well as his third homer of this road trip. However, Minnesota had a rally in them - after getting the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning to chase Charlie Morton from the game, Nelson Cruz came through with a bases clearing double that would lift Minnesota to a 6-4 lead. From there the Twins would have little trouble shutting down the Rays to clinch the series victory.
Charlie Morton (8-2, 2.43) took the loss for Tampa Bay after getting charged with five runs, three of them earned, in six and one third innings of work. He also had seven strikeouts while walking one and allowing eight hits. Former Ray Jake Odorizzi got the start against his former team - he did not factor in the decision, going five and a third innings with three runs, all of them earned, while striking out seven and walking two. Trevor May (3-1, 3.62) got the win for Minnesota with one inning of relief in which he allowed one earned run - Taylor Rogers picked up his tenth save after a scoreless inning and one third of work.
The Rays now look to avoid being swept by the Twins when the teams meet on Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis - for the Rays, it is their final game of the long road trip. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 - pregame coverage begins at high noon with Steve Carney and the Inside Pitch on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
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