The Rays didn’t get a hit against Carl Pavano and the Twins until the fifth inning last night.  Heading into the ninth, Tampa Bay was down 2-0 so you’ll understand when I was driven to the fridge to commence a little stress eating.  It seemed that the Rays’ bats, which had been incredibly active against the Red Sox, had been given one of those famous Boston curses before returning to the Trop.

I sat down at the top of the ninth with Ben and Jerry’s Cherry Garcia frozen yogurt  in hand.  Cesar Ramos got the Rays out of the inning without allowing the Twins to inflict any more damage. Minnesota’s manager Ron Gardenhire sent Joe Nathan in to save the game.  BJ Upton grounded out to open the bottom half of the inning and it looked like the only enjoyment I’d get during the game would come from froyo.

Then, Felipe Lopez doubled.  Ben Zobrist was walked.  And Matt Joyce was at bat. Joyce had two hits earlier in the game, but had been picked off once.  This time around, he doubled, allowing Lopez and Zobrist to cross home plate.  Dan Johnson and John Jaso each flied out to force a 10th inning.

Ramos struck Jim Thome out to start the extra inning before Kyle Farnsworth was called upon to close the game.  Delmon Young grounded out and then the Twins showed signs of life when Matt Tolbert singled.  A passed ball by John Jaso during Danny Valencia’s at bat allowed Tolbert to move to second.  And again, I found comfort in Cherry Garcia.  Valencia singled and Tolbert scored.  Now the Rays would have to score two to get their third straight W.  David Butera grounded out to end the top half of the inning.

Matt Capps came on the mound for Minnesota in the 10th.  Reid Brignac flied out to kick off the inning with a less than dramatic flair. Uh-oh.  The Ben and Jerry’s was gone.  But I still had a little hope, the Legend otherwise known as Sam Fuld was at the plate.  Fuld singled and the tying run was on base.  Designated hitter Johnny Damon was up next.  Damon was 0-for-4 on the night so I debated watching his fifth at bat.  I shook off the urge to channel surf and watched Johnny hit a home run to give the Rays their first home win of the season.  I stayed glued to Sun Sports to see Johnny’s post-game shaving cream pie, courtesy of BJ Upton.

Final Score: Twins 2, Rays 4 [Box Score]

Notes: Rays started James Shields threw 116 pitches, 72 were strikes.  Sam Fuld stole his seventh base of the season. Minnesota’s Joe Mauer did not play on Thursday night.  After the game it was announced that Mauer had been placed on the 15 day DL with “bilateral leg weakness.”