The Minnesota Twins (13-9) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (12-10) 9-3 on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field. The win gives Minnesota the series win in the three game weekend series.
Josh Fleming (2-3, 6.32) struggled getting the start in this one. Minnesota was able to get three runs before Fleming was able to get the first out of the game, en route to a five-run first inning. Then in the fourth inning Bryan Buxton hit a solo home run that chased Fleming from the game with two outs.
Fleming finished the game allowing six runs, five of them earned, in three and two-thirds innings on five hits while walking three and striking out one. He was relieved by Robert Duggar, who made his Rays debut hours after being called up from AAA Durham. He pitched the game's final five and one-third innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out seven and walking none.
The Rays got some offense late - in the seventh inning Taylor Walls had an RBI double, before Manuel Margot and Randy Arozarena each had RBI hits in the eighth inning to pull within 9-3.
The Rays now go to the West Coast for the next ten games, beginning with a three game series against the Athletics in Oakland. First pitch between the Rays and Oakland As comes up at 9:40 PM on Monday night - pregame coverage begins with Jay Recher hosting the Inside Pitch at 8:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES