Twins Top Rays To Take Series

The Twins jumped out to a big lead and held on to top Tampa Bay 9-7 Thursday at Tropicana Field. Minnesota is now 11-10 on the season and will return home to face the Tigers for a weekend series.

Tampa starter Erik Bedard faltered early for the Rays and allowed four runs on five hits in four innings of work. The veteran allowed three runs in the top of the first inning, walking the bases loaded before Kurt Suzuki drove home a pair of runs with a single and Sam Fuld drove in a run with a double.

Trevor Plouffe logged an RBI groundout in the top of the second inning to make it 4-0 before the Rays answered back in the bottom of the second with three runs to cut the lead to one.

The Twins pulled away for good with a four run top of the fifth inning that gave them an 8-3 lead. Fuld had another run batted in with his second double of the game, and Aaron Hicks blasted a three-run home run to right field.

The Twins and Tigers begin a three game series at Target Field Friday.