Rays 6, Twins 2: Desmond Jennings belted a two-run homer and had one of Tampa Bay's four sacrifice flies as the Rays took the rubber game of the series from visiting Minnesota.

B.J. Upton had a pair of sacrifice flies for his second straight two-RBI game as Tampa Bay improved to 5-1 at home.

Jeff Niemann (1-2) went 5 1/3 innings for his first win, allowing two hits and three runs. He struck out five and walked two.

The struggles continued for Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano (0-3), who gave up only three hits but failed to get past five innings for the fourth consecutive outing.

The Rays took a 2-0 lead in the third without benefit of a hit. Liriano loaded the bases with no outs on two walks and a hit batsman before giving up sacrifice flies to Jennings and Ben Zobrist.

Evan Longoria doubled to lead off the fourth and scored on Upton's first sacrifice fly before Jennings launched his second homer, a two-run shot, in the fifth for a 5-0 lead.

Niemann allowed only one hit through five innings but was yanked after loading the bases with one out in the sixth. Wade Davis, the second reliever of the inning, couldn't escape the jam unscathed as Ryan Doumit delivered a two-run, pinch-hit single to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Twins left fielder Josh Willingham went 0-for-2 to end his franchise record-tying 15-game hitting streak to open the season.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Minnesota RHP Nick Blackburn will return to the rotation and start Tuesday's game against Boston. Blackburn left a start against Texas on April 14 with a cramp in his shoulder. Anthony Swarzak, who started the season in the bullpen, is the likely candidate to be bumped for Blackburn. ... Jennings extended his hitting streak to five games and has hit safely in seven of the last eight. ... Doumit has eight RBIs on the season, all coming in the last six games.