Rays 4, Twins 3, 13 innings
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Ben Zobrist's two-out single in the bottom of the 13th inning lifted the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Twins at Tropicana Field in a game that lasted four hours and 47 minutes.
The walk-off win was the sixth of the year for the Rays and was the fourth of Zobrist's career.
Yunel Escobar, on with a one-out single and on second after pitcher Ryan Pressly made a throwing error trying to pick him off, scored on the liner into right-center.
Tampa Bay (52-40) extended the league's longest active win streak to seven games. Minnesota (37-51) lost its fourth straight.
Both teams had chances late to possibly win the game.
The Twins had two runners aboard to start the ninth but Rays' reliever Fernando Rodney escaped the jam.
In the 10th inning, the Rays' Wil Myers singled with two outs to bring up Kelly Johnson. Johnson smoked the ball to center field where Aaron Hicks made the catch as he plastered himself against the wall.
Tampa Bay took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Escobar's sacrifice fly.
The Twins' Pedro Florimon belted his third home run of the season, a two-run shot in the third, to give the Twins a 2-1 lead.
Tampa starter Jeremy Hellickson had allowed just two home runs in his previous seven starts.
Minnesota took a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning on Clete Thomas' bloop single to left. Hicks, who led off with a single, scored on the play.
Johnson's two-run homer -- his 13th of the season -- tied the score at 3-3 in the sixth.
Cesar Ramos earned the win for the Rays while Ryan Pressly suffered the loss.
Twins' starter Kevin Correia was charged with three earned runs on five hits and five walks with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Hellickson lasted six innings, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out eight.
Tampa Bay threatened in the seventh when Desmond Jennings singled leading off and worked his way to third on a fielder's choice and a steal. But Caleb Thielbar entered and struck out Zobrist. After an intentional walk to Evan Longoria, Thielbar struck out James Loney to end the threat.
NOTES: The Rays' bullpen had a major league-worst 4.96 ERA through the first 49 games of the season and entered play on Wednesday with a 2.43 ERA over the next 42 games, third-best in baseball. ... Rays RHP Alex Cobb will throw his third bullpen session on Thursday. He has not pitched in a game since being struck in the head by a line drive hit by Eric Hosmer in mid-June. ... Rays manager Joe Maddon said he doesn't believe 3B Evan Longoria's recent offensive woes (5-for-40 over 13 games entering play on Wednesday) were related to his plantar fasciitis. ... Twins manager Ron Gardenhire inserted Thomas into the lead-off spot on Wednesday; utility 2B Jamey Carroll was in the second hole and Eduardo Escobar at 3B hoping to stoke and offense that had scored five runs in the first two games of the series. ... RP Michael Tonkin, who will replace RP Caleb Thielbar during his stint on the bereavement list, is slated to be added to the active roster from Triple-A Rochester on Thursday.
