Twins 3, Rays 2
MINNEAPOLIS -- A two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Minnesota Twins and right-hander Phil Hughes to a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Target Field on Friday.
Trailing 2-1, the Twins got a leadoff single by center fielder Aaron Hicks and shortstop Danny Santana followed with an RBI triple into the right-field corner. Santana scored when the next batter, second baseman Brian Dozier, flew out to center field.
Twins righty Blaine Boyer worked around a leadoff single in the eighth and closer Glen Perkins pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save this season and 100th of his career.
For Hughes, who allowed two runs on five hits and a walk through seven innings, it was his third consecutive victory after starting the season 0-4.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for Tampa, who won the final three games of a four-game series against the American East-leading New York Yankees earlier this week.
Rays right-hander Jake Odorizzi was strong until the seventh, taking the loss after allowing three runs on eight hits in six-plus innings of work, falling to 3-3.
The Rays opened the scoring in the second inning when designated hitter David DeJesus turned on a 1-0 fastball from Hughes for his third homer of the season.
Minnesota evened the score when Dozier led off the third with his fifth homer of the season.
But the Rays took advantage of some shaky outfield defense in the fifth, getting a one-out double by left fielder Joey Butler. Two batters later, center fielder Kevin Kiermaier blooped a single that landed in front of left fielder Eduardo Escobar, who appeared to slow down to set up a throw to the plate. Escobar, a career infielder, fielded the bounce cleanly, but Butler was already halfway between third and home, leaving him no play.
NOTES: Rays RHP Alex Cobb had successful Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Thursday. He will miss the remainder of this season and most of 2016. ... Rays LHP Matt Moore threw a bullpen session and pitched in a simulated game in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Friday as he attempts to return from Tommy John surgery. ... The Twins signed INF Ryan Wheeler and assigned him to Triple-A Rochester. Wheeler was released by the Los Angeles Angels last week. ... Twins OF Oswaldo Arcia took swings in the cage on Friday. He is on the disabled list with a right hip flexor strain. ... Twins RHP Casey Fien will throw a bullpen session, perhaps as soon as this weekend, and begin a rehabilitation assignment in the next week. Fien was placed on the disabled list April 30 with a sore throwing shoulder. ... The Rays and Twins will play the second game of a three-game series at Target Field on Saturday. Rays RHP Alex Colome (2-1, 5.63 ERA) will oppose Twins RHP Trevor May (2-3, 5.40 ERA).