ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. _ When the Twins were in San Diego in early August _ during a week in which they fell four games under .500 _ manager Paul Molitor wrote "No retreat, no surrender" on a grease board in the visitors' clubhouse at Petco Park.
The Twins entered Monday six games over .500 and in control of the second wild-card spot in the American League. And Molitor was reminded of his message before Monday's game.
"I had forgotten about that," Molitor said with a chuckle.
Regardless if the message had any impact, the Twins played their best baseball of the season, shaking off bad losses along the way to move in playoff position.
They are going to happen," Molitor said. "So you sit back and _ we talked about pity will get you nowhere _ so you just get back on the horse."
The Twins arrived in St. Petersburg on Monday looking to do just that after losing two of three over the weekend to Kansas City. But they also had to deal with being the hunted.
Tampa Bay began the series four games behind the Twins for the second wild-card spot, and viewed the meeting as a chance to make a push of their own. And they surely made that statement by using a four-run sixth to pull away for an 11-4 victory at Tropicana Field.
The Rays took a 2-1 lead early then crafted a big inning after Twins right-hander Jose Berrios allowed the first two batters of the sixth on base. The Twins have now lost three of their last four. The Angels won an extra-inning game in Oakland to move to one-half game behind the Twins. And Tampa Bay is now three back and feeling as if they are not totally out of the running.
Berrios was charged with five runs over five innings on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven. He won't forget Rays outfielder Corey Dickerson, who was 3 for 3 off of him with a home runs and two RBIs.
The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the second when Byron Buxton singled then stole second _ his 20th consecutive steal, the third longest in Twins history. Max Kepler singled to right to score Buxton with the first run of the game.
Dickerson batted in the bottom of the inning and launched a home run that just cleared the center-field wall to tie the game. Evan Longoria singled in a run in the second to put the Rays ahead, 2-1. Berrios then settled into a nice duel with Rays right-hander Alex Cobb.
Cobb retired eight straight Twins until Joe Mauer's double to center with one out in the sixth. It extended Mauer's hit streak to 13 games, Mauer was stranded there, however, and Berrios got into the trouble in the bottom of the inning.
Logan Morrison led off with single, Steven Souza, Jr. walked and Dickerson doubled in a run to send Berrios to the dugout.
Ryan Pressly replaced Berrios and got one out before intentionally walking Brad Miller to bring Adeiny Hechavarria to the plate.
Hechavarria flied out to center as Souza tagged at third. Buxton's throw arrived at the same time as Souza, but catcher Mitch Garver could not hold onto it, giving Tampa Bay a 4-1 lead. Buddy Boshers entered, but Kevin Kiermaier, batting .238 against lefties, came through with a two-run single, putting the Rays ahead, 6-1.
Morrison, facing John Curtiss in the seventh, belted a solo home to make it 7-1 _ proving something Molitor warned about before the game.
"This team is dangerous," he said. "They are very capable of ambushing you. They are very capable of putting power up and down their lineup. They are good in their park."
Brian Dozier hit a two-run homer in the eighth before Tampa Bay scored four more in the bottom of the inning. The Twins are still looking to get back on that horse.
