Rays 5, Twins 4
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Left fielder Joey Butler hit a game-tying single and scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball as the Tampa Bay Rays earned a 5-4 win over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday at Tropicana Field.
Butler, who was called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Durham, knocked in second baseman Logan Forsythe to tie the game 4-4 in the sixth inning. He advanced to second due to fielder indifference and moved to third on a grounder from pinch hitter John Jaso.
When a pitch from Neal Cotts eluded Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki, Butler came home to put Tampa Bay in front.
Brandon Gomes (2-4) pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win. Brad Boxberger struck out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning for his 31st save.
Twins starter Tommy Milone (6-4) gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Minnesota fell a half-game behind Texas for the second American League wild card. Tampa Bay is 2 1/2 games behind the Rangers.
Shortstop Eduardo Escobar hit a home run to straightaway center and Suzuki had an RBI double off Rays starter Drew Smyly to give the Twins a 4-2 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Escobar has three home runs in the past two games.
The Rays tightened the game to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning when designated hitter Travis Beckham and scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher J.P. Arencibia.
Tampa Bay took a 2-0 lead at the bottom of the first inning when right fielder Brandon Guyer scored on a sacrifice fly from third baseman Evan Longoria. The next batter, Forsythe, hit his 15th home run of the season.
The Twins rallied with runs in the second and third inning. Third baseman Miguel Sano had an RBI double that hit the B-ring on the catwalk at Tropicana Field.
Smyly gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and struck out five in 4 1/3 innings. He threw 100 pitches with 63 strikes.
NOTES: With a hit Thursday, Twins DH Joe Mauer reached safely via hit or walk in 14 straight against the Rays. ... Rays 1B James Loney served his one-game suspension Thursday after dropping his appeal, stemming from his ejection Saturday at Oakland. "It's just better to take (the suspension) now rather than, if you lose the appeal, have them determine when that day would be," Loney said. "So you might as well just take it on your own terms." ... Rays OF Desmond Jennings was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised left knee. The Rays recalled OF Joey Butler from Triple-A Durham.