Tristan Gray's First Career Grand Slam Exploded in the 7th and the Twins Blew Past Tampa Bay
Tristan Gray just announced himself in the biggest possible way. The Minnesota shortstop crushed his first career grand slam to punctuate an absolutely dominant seventh inning, driving in five runs total as the Twins steamrolled the Tampa Bay Rays 10-4 on Friday at Target Field. This was Minneapolis celebrating its home opener after grinding through six games on the road to start the season.
The Seventh Inning That Changed Everything
The game was tied 3-3 when the Twins got into the batter's box in the seventh, and then it turned into a highlight reel. Josh Bell singled to center to put Minnesota up 4-3. Two straight bases-loaded walks from Trevor Larnach and Royce Lewis pushed it to 6-3. Then Gray stepped up and launched a 374-foot missile just over the right-field wall. Game over. Seven runs in one inning will do that to you.
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👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiOn the mound, Minnesota's bullpen was virtually untouchable. Kody Funderburk got the victory in relief despite retiring only one batter, and the relievers combined to hold Tampa Bay to just one run across five innings of work. Rays starter Kevin Kelly couldn't make it out of the first third of an inning, bleeding six runs (five earned).
Tampa Bay Fought But Couldn't Keep Up
The Rays came out swinging. Nick Fortes doubled to left with two outs in the top of the first to plate two runs and stake Tampa to an early 2-0 lead. They added one more in the fourth to go up 3-0 when Ben Williamson doubled to score Jake Fraley, who'd led off with his own double.
Minnesota clawed back in the bottom of the fourth. Bell doubled to right to score Luke Keaschall, Royce Lewis followed with an RBI fielder's choice, and Gray added a sacrifice fly to right that scored Ryan Jeffers to tie it at 3.
Cedric Mullins singled in a run in the eighth to make it 10-4, but it was too little, too late. The Twins had already run away with it.
One concern for Minnesota: Byron Buxton left the game after being hit on his right forearm. X-rays came back negative, but he was ruled with a bruise.
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