Aranda, Díaz and Matz lead the Rays to a 7-1 victory over the Twins

By: The Associated Press Posted: 9:06 PM CDT Saturday, Apr. 4, 2026

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jonathan Aranda hit a two-run double, Yandy Díaz drove in two runs and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 7-1 on Saturday night.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jonathan Aranda hit a two-run double, Yandy Díaz drove in two runs and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 7-1 on Saturday night.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jonathan Aranda hit a two-run double, Yandy Díaz drove in two runs and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 7-1 on Saturday night.

Aranda’s double highlighted a three-run second inning, and Díaz later added an RBI triple as Tampa Bay rallied behind a strong start by Steven Matz.

Matz (2-0) allowed one run on two hits over six innings, striking out eight and walking two. Mick Abel (0-2) took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits in four innings for the Twins.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Steven Matz delivers against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of baseball game, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)

The Rays broke through in the second inning after Chandler Simpson reached on a throwing error and Ben Williamson walked. Díaz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in the game’s first run. Aranda followed with a sharp double to right field that scored two more and gave Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead.

Minnesota answered in the bottom half when Brooks Lee lined a two-out RBI single to center that scored Matt Wallner and cut the deficit to 3-1.

Tampa Bay added another run in the third after Cedric Mullins reached on a bunt single, stole second and later scored on a double-play grounder by Williamson to extend the lead to 4-1.

The Rays stretched the margin in the fifth when Williamson singled home Mullins, and Hunter Feduccia followed with another RBI single to make it 6-1.

Díaz capped the scoring in the eighth with a triple to center field that drove in Richie Palacios.

Cole Sulser pitched two scoreless innings, and Mason Englert worked a scoreless ninth as Rays pitchers combined for a three-hitter and 12 strikeouts.

Up next

RHP Nick Martinez (0-0, 3.00 ERA) gets the start for the Rays, while RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (0-1, 3.60 ERA) takes the mound for the Twins in the series finale on Sunday.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb