The Twins pounded out 15 hits and 24 total bases as they beat the Tampa Bay Rays 11-8 for their eighth win in nine games Friday night at Target Field.
Minnesota sent eight batters to the plate and scored three runs in the first inning and scored four more in the third inning, highlighted by Joe Mauer’s third homer of the season – a 416-foot shot off the bottom of the batter’s eye in center field.
Mauer finished with four RBI and was one of five Twins with multiple hits, joining Eddie Rosario, Jorge Polanco, Robbie Grossman and Jake Cave. Cave finished a homer shy of hitting for the cycle.
The win keeps the Twins within 7 1/2 games of the first place Indians in the Central division.
Saturday’s game starts at 1:10 p.m. and features a great pitching matchup between Jose Berrios and Chris Archer.
