Sean Rodriguez and B.J. Upton each slammed three-run homers to power the streaking Tampa Bay Rays to a 6-4 victory over the visiting Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Tampa Bay won for the 10th time in 11 games and improved to 8-1 on its current 11-game homestand.

Rodriguez erased an early 1-0 deficit with a three-run shot in the first inning off Twins starter Brian Duensing and Upton broke a 3-3 deadlock with a three-run blast in the seventh off reliever Matt Guerrier (1-6).

Jeff Niemann (10-3) worked seven solid innings as the Rays beat the Twins for the second time in as many nights to move ahead of the New York Yankees and into sole possession of first place in the American League East.

Niemann allowed three runs on eight hits to become the fourth Tampa Bay starter to win 10 games this season. Rafael Soriano survived a ninth-inning jam for his 31st save.

Joe Mauer returned from a two-game absence and had three RBI singles for the Twins, who also got a game-tying solo home run from Drew Butera in the top of the seventh inning.

Minnesota fell 1 ½ games behind the division-leading Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.