Rays play through snow flurries to beat Twins in a solid team effort

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Apr 4, 2026

Published in Baseball

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MINNEAPOLIS — Maybe the Tampa Bay Rays can put a hot finish on what has been a cold start to the season.

After losing five of their first seven games, the Rays played through snow flurries on a frigid Saturday night to beat the Minnesota Twins 7-1.

As a result, they have a chance in Sunday’s finale to head home for Monday’s Tropicana Field reopening just a game under .500.

Veteran Steven Matz gave them strong six innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out eight, and they got offensive contributions from throughout the lineup.

Veteran centerfielder Cedric Mullins, who entered the game hitting .080 (2-for-25), played a key role, sparking two rallies with leadoff singles and stolen bases, and making a diving catch. Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda each knocked in a pair of runs.

First-pitch temperature was 39 degrees — one better than Friday — with a feels-like in the high 20s as there were light flurries on and off through the early innings.

The Rays jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second, with Chandler Simpson sparking the rally and Twins starter Mick Abel contributing.

Simpson slapped a grounder to third, beat Royce Lewis’ throw and then advanced to second when the ball bounced past first.

After Ben Williamson walked, Abel hit Richie Palacios with one out to load the bases and two pitches later hit Diaz to force in a run. Two pitches after that, Aranda laced a double to right to make it 3-0.

The Twins got a run back in the bottom of the inning after Matz put the first two men on with a single and a walk, then allowed a two-out single to Brooks Lee.

The Rays kept adding on, with Mullins bunting his way on, stealing second and scoring on a Simpson single in the third.

Mullins got them started again in the fifth, leading off with a single, stealing second again and scoring on a one-out single by Williamson.

The Rays added on in the eighth when Palacios drew a one-out walk and stole second, then Diaz laced a ball to the right of center that James Outman couldn’t handle and went for a triple.

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