Harrison Bader's Ninth-Inning Blast Secures Walk-Off Win for Twins

Harrison Bader delivered a game-winning moment for the Minnesota Twins on Friday, launching his second home run of the night in the bottom of the ninth inning, sealing a 4-3 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays.

With the game on the line, Bader, batting ninth, connected on the very first pitch from Kevin Kelly (0-1), sending it soaring into the left-field stands. This dramatic hit capped off a three-run rally for Minnesota, showcasing their resilience.

This marked Bader's third career walk-off RBI, and notably, his first walk-off home run. The Twins' comeback was fueled by a two-out RBI double from Byron Buxton in the seventh inning, which ignited the momentum shift.

Louis Varland (3-3) played a crucial role in the victory, pitching two scoreless innings to earn the win. The Twins had been trailing 3-1 before their late-game surge.

Starting pitcher Chris Paddack had a solid outing, allowing two earned runs and five hits over five-plus innings. His performance included a sixth-inning single from Josh Lowe, who later scored on Yandy Díaz's double, contributing to Tampa Bay's early lead.

Junior Caminero added to the Rays' score with a single off Danny Coulombe, bringing Díaz home and pushing Tampa Bay ahead 2-1. Lowe then extended the lead with an RBI single in the seventh.

Zack Littell was effective for Tampa Bay, delivering six strong innings while allowing just one earned run for the third consecutive start. He scattered four hits and struck out five batters, maintaining pressure on the Twins' lineup.

In his Rays debut, shortstop Ha-Seong Kim recorded a hit but exited after being caught stealing in the sixth inning, limping slightly as he left the field. Kim had missed the first 87 games of the season due to recovery from right shoulder surgery. The 2023 Gold Glove winner with San Diego signed a lucrative two-year, $29 million contract with Tampa Bay earlier this year.

Brandon Lowe of Tampa Bay extended his career-high hitting streak to 19 games with a single in the fourth inning. This streak ties him with Jason Bartlett for the second-longest in Rays history, just behind Díaz's impressive 20-game streak from last season.

The series continues Saturday as Tampa Bay is set to start right-hander Taj Bradley (5-6, 4.84 ERA), while the Twins have yet to announce their starting pitcher.