Rays 12, Twins 5
Evan Longoria lined a tie-breaking RBI single and Sean Rodriguez capped a four-run rally in the eighth inning with a two-run homer as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Minnesota Twins 12-5 Wednesday afternoon.
B.J. Upton knocked in the second run in the eighth with a squeeze bunt before Rodriguez hit his fourth homer off losing pitcher Alex Burnett (2-5) for a 9-5 lead. Longoria added a three-run homer in the ninth.
Michael Cuddyer knocked in three runs for the Twins, including a solo home run that tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh. Cuddyer has 10 RBIs in the last five games.
Rays’ designated hitter Johnny Damon left the game in the fourth inning with a contusion on his left hand. He was hit by a Francisco Liriano pitch on the hand in the third inning. Liriano also hit Damon to lead off the game.
J.P. Howell (2-1) retired all three batters he faced, two on strikeouts, in the seventh to earn the win.
Rays’ first baseman Casey Kotchman had three hits, improving to 9-for-20 the last five games.
Liriano, the Twins’ starter, allowed six hits, four walks and hit three batters in 4 1/3 innings as the Rays built a 5-2 lead.