The Tampa Bay Rays (86-50) blew out the Minnesota Twins (58-77) 11-4 on Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field. The Rays built their lead over the Yankees to 7.5 games in the AL East after New York fell to Baltimore 4-3 earlier in the day.
Randy Arozerena set the tone, hitting a triple in the first, single in the second and home run in the third. Wander Franco also went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs score to extend his amazing streak of reaching base to 34 games.
The Rays got homers from Arozerena, Yandy Diaz, Jordan Luplow, Manuel Margot, Nelson Cruz and Brandon Lowe to tie the franchise record for most home runs in a single game. After putting up a two spot in the first, they added five in the second to start to take command of this game. They then went on to add two in the third and two in the fourth on their way to an 11-4 win.
Chris Archer (1-1, 5.28) picked up his first win, allowing four earned runs on four hits in five innings of work while striking out three and walking one. Dietrich Enns picked up a three-inning save, allowing just four hits in the final three innings of the game.
The Rays now look to sweep the Twins on Sunday afternoon. First pitch Sunday is scheduled for 1:10 PM - pregame coverage begins at 11:30 AM with Neil Solondz hosting This Week In Rays Baseball on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES