Twins Vs. Rays: Johnny Damon Walk-Off Lifts Tampa Bay Over Minnesota

For eight innings, the Tampa Bay Rays were watching a rerun. Thursday night against the Minnesota Twins, the punchless Tampa offense was shut down yet again, apparently wasting a solid performance from starting pitcher James Shields. But two late-inning bursts -- two runs to tie in the ninth, then two runs to win in the tenth -- stunned Minnesota, as the Rays walked off on Johnny Damon's two-run homer, winning 4-3.

The Twins scored first, with Justin Morneau doubling, moving to third on a Jim Thome single, and scoring on a Delmon Young sacrifice fly. A Drew Butera single plated Thome, and Minnesota took a 2-0 lead.

That lead would hold until the ninth when Joe Nathan, who was three-for-three in save opportunities since returning from injury, gave up a Felipe Lopez double and a walk to Ben Zobrist. Matt Joyce then ripped a two-run double into the right-center field gap, scoring both Lopez and Zobrist to tie the game.

In the top of the tenth, Matt Tolbert singled and moved to second on a passed ball. Danny Valencia singled Jaso home, giving the Twins a lead they would hold only briefly. In the bottom of the inning, folk hero Sam Fuld singled, and Johnny Damon took a Matt Capps fastball just over the right-field wall, bringing the beleaguered Rays to 4-8 and dropping the Twins to the same record. On a day when Minnesota also lost Joe Mauer to injury, the loss was especially discouraging.

Game two of the four-game series continues tomorrow, with Nick Blackburn going for the Twins, and Wade Davis going for the Rays.