Rays 15, Twins 3
Ben Zobrist had four hits, including a three-run homer, and knocked in a team-record eight runs as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays rolled to a 15-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday afternoon.
Zobrist has three homers and 16 RBIs in the last four games. He surpassed Carlos Pena’s team record of seven RBIs in a game, set in 2007.
B.J. Upton added three hits and two RBIs and Johnny Damon, along with Matt Joyce, each had three hits and one RBI for the Rays (13-11), who have won four straight.
Starter Jeremy Hellickson (2-2) went 6 1-3 innings for the Rays, allowing three runs on seven hits for the victory.
Rene Tosoni had two hits and an RBI in his major league debut for the Twins (9-14).
Minnesota starter Nick Blackburn (1-4) gave up eight hits and seven runs (five earned) in 3 1-3 innings.
Tampa Bay scored in each of the first four innings and seven of nine. Upton and Zobrist got things started with RBI singles in the first inning and Casey Kotchman hit his first homer of the season, a solo blast, in the second.