MINNEAPOLIS – Nelson Cruz received signs that his departure from Minnesota did not end with the affection of the local public. And then he helped put his new team on the best record it has ever had this season.
Cruz hit a home run on his return to Minnesota, and the Tampa Bay Rays moved 26 games above the .500 mark by beating the Twins 10-4 on Friday night.
The Dominican made his first appearance in Minnesota since the Twins traded him to the Rays in a trade agreed on July 22. Cruz hit 76 homers for Minnesota over the past three seasons, and he had a positive influence on his younger teammates.
Fans gave a loud cheer to Cruz, who removed his helmet to thank before his first turn. His compatriot Michael Pineda struck him out afterward on three pitches.
On his next turn, Cruz licked the left field seats to hit 24 home runs this season – five with Tampa Bay. The garrotazo generated another acclaim from the public.
Cruz was 4-2 with one walk and two runs.
“You play for many things in this sport. Nelly Cruz has earned everyone’s respect, so it was great to see the fans gifted her with that moment, ”said Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.
Cuban Yandy Díaz, Mike Zunino and Kiermaier also hit home runs for the Rays, who hold a five-game lead at the top of the NL East Division.
Every player who started the game with the Rays had at least one hit. Seven players pushed in at least one run.
“We are scoring a lot. It takes more than one player to do that, ”manager Kevin Cash said. “We have a lot of guys who are doing really special things at the plate.”
Shane McClanahan (7-4) allowed two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings for his fourth win in his last five starts. Evan Phillips allowed a touchdown in three innings to earn his first save of the season.
For the Rays, the Dominicans Wander Franco 5-1 with a run scored, Cruz 4-2 with two runs scored and one RBI, Manuel Margot 4-1 with an RBI. Cuban Diaz 3-1 with a run scored and a RBI.
For the Twins, the Dominicans Jorge Polanco 5-0, Miguel Sanó 4-2 with two RBIs.
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