Yandy Díaz hit a two-run homer during an eight-run fourth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays went on to defeat the Minnesota Twins 9-4 on Wednesday night.
All eight runs came off Louie Varland (0-6), who was called up from Triple-A St. Paul to pitch after opener Ronny Henríquez.
Taylor Walls had a two-run single, and José Caballero added an RBI single in that inning. The Rays also scored from a couple of fielder’s choice grounders with the infield in and an errant pickoff throw by Varland.
“A lot happened,” Varland said. “It’s how it goes, I guess?”
Walls later added his third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
The Rays were six games behind Kansas City for the final AL wild card spot before the game.
“We want to fight for a wild card,” said Taj Bradley, who is starting for the Rays on Thursday. “We’ve got some stuff to do, some work to do. These games just feel more important.”
Carlos Santana hit his 20th homer during a four-run seventh inning for the Twins, who still hold the second AL wild card spot despite a 5-11 record since August 18.
“Over 16 games, you’re going to have stretches where you don’t play your best,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “It’s how you handled it.”
Minnesota’s Kyle Farmer also hit a solo homer in the seventh inning off Tyler Alexander (6-4).
Baldelli, who used to coach for Rays manager Kevin Cash, used an opener for the second time this season against the team that started it. Henríquez allowed one hit in a scoreless inning.
Baldelli said before the game that using an opener was “just to mess around” with Cash.
Minnesota third baseman Royce Lewis made his first career start and second appearance at second base as the Twins try to add more flexibility to their infield.
