Johnny Damon belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 4-3 victory over the visiting Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.
Sam Fuld singled with one out before Damon’s third home run of the season for the Rays (4-8), who have won three straight games. Matt Joyce (3-for-4) hit a two-run double to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth off Twins closer Joe Nathan.
Kyle Farnsworth (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Tampa Bay.
Matt Tolbert singled with two outs and moved to second on a passed ball before Danny Valencia knocked him in to give the Twins a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th inning. Unfortunately for Minnesota, Matt Capps (1-1) could not save the game.
Jim Thome and Justin Morneau had two hits apiece for the Twins (4-8). Minnesota starter Carl Pavano pitched eight shutout innings, allowing four hits.
Tampa Bay starter James Shields had a four-hit shutout through five innings, but the Twins broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the sixth.
Minnesota | Tampa Bay | |
Carl Pavano | Player | James Shields |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
8.0 | IP | 7.0 |
7 | Strikeouts | 4 |
4 | Hits | 9 |
0.00 | ERA | 2.57 |
Minnesota | Tampa Bay | |
Danny Valencia | Player | Matthew Joyce |
3 | Hits | 3 |
1 | RBI | 2 |
0 | HR | 0 |
3 | TB | 4 |
.750 | Avg | .750 |