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Twins edge streaking Rays, end slide

Apr 18, 2011 - 12:24 AM St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Matt Tolbert capped a three-run fifth inning with an RBI triple, and the Minnesota Twins salvaged the finale of a four-game series with a 4-2 victory over Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field.

Jason Kubel clubbed a solo home run for the Twins, who avoided a fifth straight loss. Brian Duensing (1-0) tossed seven strong innings, limiting the Rays to two runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

"It's about time we won a ball game. We actually played well enough in this series to win three games and we only come out of here with one," said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire.

Jeremy Hellickson (1-2) gave up four runs on six hits over seven full frames for Tampa Bay, which had its win streak snapped at five games.

"We really hit the ball well today. They played some good defense against us," said Rays manager Joe Maddon.

Johnny Damon, who had driven in the winning run in each of the previous five games, stacked the Rays to a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the third. Earlier in the at-bat, Damon was hit by a pitch while attempting a bunt. He wound up leaving the game after the fourth with a bruise on the tip of his left ring finger.

The Twins tied the game on Kubel's opposite field homer in the fourth, but Tampa Bay moved ahead in the bottom of the inning when Ben Zobrist drew a one- out walk and scored on a triple by Sean Rodriguez.

Minnesota put up a three-spot in the next frame. Michael Cuddyer started the fifth with a double and came around to score the tying run after back-to-back singles by Steve Holm and Jason Repko.

With Tolbert batting, Repko stole second base and took third on an errant throw by catcher Kelly Shoppach. The error enabled Holm to cross the plate with the go-ahead run. Tolbert then stroked a triple to right field for a 4-2 lead.

Glen Perkins replaced Duensing in the eighth and immediately walked B.J. Upton, who advanced to third on Shoppach's one-out single. Perkins, though, escaped the jam when Zobrist grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Matt Capps shut the door in the ninth for his first save of the season. Capps is assuming the role of interim closer after Joe Nathan relinquished the job after blowing consecutive saves this weekend.

Game Notes

The Rays were aiming for their ninth four-game sweep in team history and second against the Twins (August 10-13, 2001)...Tampa Bay finished 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position...Damon was replaced by Matt Joyce and is listed as day-to-day.