Yandy Díaz Powers Rays to 7-5 Victory Over Twins with Key 10th Inning Double

Yandy Díaz delivered a pivotal double in the 10th inning, driving in the go-ahead run as the Tampa Bay Rays secured a 7-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, preventing a three-game sweep.

With an automatic runner on second, Díaz connected on a 2-1 pitch from Justin Topa (1-3), bringing Danny Jansen home. The situation escalated when Topa's errant throw to first on a sacrifice bunt by José Caballero allowed Díaz to score, followed by Junior Caminero's sacrifice fly that brought Caballero across the plate.

Harrison Bader played a crucial role, tying the game at 4-all with a two-run pinch-hit homer off Mason Montgomery in the eighth. In the bottom of the 10th, he drove in automatic runner Byron Buxton with a groundout against Eric Orze, who earned his third save.

Pete Fairbanks (4-2) earned the win after securing five outs. Joe Boyle, stepping in for opener Drew Rasmussen, allowed two hits and an unearned run over five innings.

Buxton wasted no time, launching Rasmussen's second pitch of the game into left field for his 20th home run of the season.

Taylor Walls opened the third inning against Joe Ryan with his third homer. Ryan finished with two runs allowed over six innings, striking out eight batters.

Jose Aranda shone for the Rays, collecting three hits and driving in two runs. Caminero broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth with a fielder's choice on a swinging bunt, followed by Aranda's RBI infield hit that gave the Rays a 4-2 lead.

Boyle entered in the third inning with two runners on and one out but struck out Trevor Larnach and Carlos Correa to maintain the tie.

This season, five of Buxton's 14 career leadoff homers have come in this campaign alone.

The Rays are set to begin a three-game series against Detroit on Monday, with neither team announcing a starter yet. Meanwhile, the Twins will send RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (4-4, 4.41 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday for their series opener against the visiting Cubs, who have not yet revealed their starting pitcher.