Rays rally to sting Twins in extra innings
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MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (Reuters) - Willy Aybar drove in the winning run with an RBI single in the 10th inning to secure a dramatic 5-4 victory for the Tampa Bay Rays over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.
The Rays were trailing 4-3 with two outs in the ninth when Carl Crawford singled and Evan Longoria connected for a game-tying double to force extra innings.
"I always like extra-inning wins on the road. I think they demonstrate the character of a team."
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Delmon Young drove in two runs, including a home run in the seventh that tied the game at 3-3, for the AL Central-leading Twins (43-36).
The Rays had been 2-0 down before they scored once in each of the fourth and fifth innings. Crawford then gave the visitors a 3-2 lead with an RBI single in the seventh. He finished 4-for-6 with two runs.
Tampa Bay outfielder B.J. Upton was absent again from the lineout and has not started since getting into a confrontation with Longoria last Sunday in the dugout, but the team has said his absence has been strictly related to injury.
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Minnesota pitcher Carl Pavano was looking to win his fifth successive start but had to take a no-decision after allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings.
(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by John O'Brien/Greg Stutchbury)