Shortstop Brooks Lee’s late solo home run was enough insurance for the Minnesota Twins to escape Tropicana Field with a 5-4 victory Monday night against the Tampa Bay Rays.
It was Lee’s third home run of the year, as he hit it off Rays reliever Garrett Cleavinger in the top of the eighth inning.
It was a crucial victory for the Twins, as they are now a game ahead of the Kansas City Royals for second place in the American League Central and in the second spot for the AL Wild Card. The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Royals earlier on Monday and hold a 3.5-game lead over the Twins in the division.
Minnesota got the scoring started early against Rays starter and former Twin Zack Littell after a Trevor Larnach walk and José Miranda single. With two outs, Royce Lewis — who hit a clutch three-run home run Sunday afternoon in the Twins’ 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays — smacked an RBI double down the left field line to give the Twins a 1-0 lead.
Related: Royce Lewis lifts Twins past Blue Jays with late home run