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Twins Survive Rays Comeback, Use a Little Dome Magic to Win 8-6

The Twins don't play in the Metrodome anymore, but that doesn't mean they forgot how to use a little dome magic.

After squandering a six run lead in the eighth inning, Jason Kubel's fluke go-ahead run-scoring single in the top of the ninth lifted the Minnesota Twins to an 8-6 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a four-game set at Tropicana Field.

Tied at 6-6 entering the ninth, Jason Repko doubled leading off against reliever Joaquin Benoit (0-1) and advanced to third on a ground ball. Joe Mauer was intentionally walked and Delmon Young bounced into a fielder's choice before the Twins went ahead in a bizarre way.

With runners still on first and third, Kubel hit a towering pop up toward second base, but the ball hit the Tropicana Field catwalk and landed near the pitchers mound for a base hit, allowing Repko to score with the go-ahead run. Michael Cuddyer added an RBI single for an 8-6 game.

In the home half, Matt Capps (1-0), who retired the final batter in the eighth, stayed on and walked John Jaso with one out. The right-hander recovered to strike out Ben Zobrist looking, and Carl Crawford grounded out to second to end the game.

Photographs by Micah Taylor, clairity, and Fibonacci Blue used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.