Twins 5, Rays 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Shortstop Eduardo Escobar hit two solo home runs, helping the Minnesota Twins beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 Wednesday night at Tropicana Field for their season-high sixth consecutive victory.
In a key series for two teams vying for wild-card spots, the Twins (65-61) twice trailed early before chasing Rays starter Chris Archer with two runs in the seventh.
The Rays (62-64) lost their third straight, giving up a combined 24 runs and 36 hits in the three defeats.
Former Rays reliever Kevin Jepsen, acquired by the Twins at last month's trade deadline, closed out the win with a perfect ninth, earning his eighth save and third with Minnesota.
In a 2-2 game, the Twins loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh off Archer without a ball leaving the infield. Left fielder Shane Robinson walked, center fielder Byron Buxton beat out Archer's throw on a bunt single, and second baseman Brian Dozier popped a bunt just out of the reach of a diving Archer.
Facing reliever Xavier Cedeno, first baseman Joe Mauer gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead with an RBI single, and third baseman Trevor Plouffe made it 4-2 with a sacrifice fly.
The Rays immediately cut into the Twins' lead in the bottom of the seventh, with third baseman Evan Longoria leading off with a solo home run, his 14th of the season. The Rays briefly had the tying run in scoring position, but a replay review and reversal saw designated hitter John Jaso called out trying to steal second.
With the game tied in the sixth, the Rays had the bases loaded and no outs after three consecutive singles. However, Minnesota starter Tyler Duffey got a pop foul for the first out, and left-hander Brian Duensing forced an infield pop and fly to left field to strand all three.
Duensing (4-0) emerged with the win despite allowing a run in the seventh.
Archer (11-10) struck out 12 in six innings. He gave up four runs on nine hits and a walk.
The Rays had no hits in the first three innings before Duffey gave up a home run to right fielder Daniel Nava leading off the fourth.
The Twins answered with a run in the fifth, getting to Archer as left fielder Shane Robinson scored on a fielder's choice.
The Rays took the lead again in the bottom of the fifth. Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier hit his major-league-leading 12th triple of the season and scored on an RBI single by left fielder Grady Sizemore. The Rays had the bases loaded with two outs, but Duffey got out of the jam when second baseman Logan Forsythe lined out to second base.
Minnesota answered again in the sixth with a solo home run by Escobar.
NOTES: The Rays placed C Curt Casali on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain and recalled C/1B J.P. Arencibia from Triple-A Durham. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays recalled LHP Grayson Garvin from Double-A Montgomery and placed him on the 60-day disabled list with a lat injury. Casali injured his hamstring during a home run trot Tuesday. ... Rays OF Desmond Jennings, who left Tuesday's game in the third inning with a bruised left knee, did not start Wednesday. He is day-to-day. Jennings missed 96 games after surgery to the same knee earlier this season. ... Twins OF Eddie Rosario hit his 10th triple of the season Tuesday, setting a team rookie record. He is the first rookie with 10 triples since Alcides Escobar and Austin Jackson in 2010. Only the Rays' Kevin Kiermaier (11) had more entering Wednesday's games.