Minnesota Twins' Harrison Bader is doused by teammates after his winning solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Bader walks off Rays with 2nd home run of game for Twins

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Harrison Bader hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Minnesota Twins a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.

Bader, the No. 9 batter, lined the first pitch he saw from Kevin Kelly (0-1) into the first row of left-field seats to complete a three-run Minnesota comeback.

It was the second career walk-off RBI for Bader, first on a home run.

Louis Varland (3-3) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.

Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Minnesota got a two-out RBI double from Byron Buxton before Rays reliever Garrett Cleavinger hit Willi Castro and Brooks Lee with pitches, tying the game. Carlos Correa struck out with the bases loaded.

Minnesota Twins’ Harrison Bader runs the bases and approaches his teammates at home plate after his winning solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Twins starter Chris Paddack allowed two earned runs and five hits in five-plus innings. Josh Lowe singled against Paddack leading off the sixth and scored on Yandy Díaz’s double.

Junior Caminero drove in Díaz with a single off Danny Coulombe for a 2-1 Rays lead. Lowe added an RBI single in the seventh.

Zack Littell pitched six solid innings for Tampa Bay, allowing one earned run for the third straight start. He scattered four hits and struck out five.

Key moment

Tampa Bay shortstop Ha-Seong Kim had a hit in his Rays debut before leaving with a cramp in his right calf after he was caught stealing in the sixth inning. Kim doesn’t think it’s serious, but he’ll be re-evaluated Saturday.

Minnesota Twins’ Harrison Bader hits a winning solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays to end a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Kim missed the first 87 games this season recovering from right shoulder surgery. The 2023 Gold Glove recipient with San Diego signed a two-year, $29 million deal with Tampa Bay on Feb. 3.

Key stat

Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe extended his career-high hitting streak to 19 games with a fourth-inning single. The longest active streak in the majors ties him with Jason Bartlett in 2009 for the second-longest in Rays history. Díaz hit in 20 straight games last season.

Up next

The series continues Saturday when Tampa Bay plans to start RHP Taj Bradley (5-6, 4.84 ERA). The Twins had yet to announce a scheduled starter.

Minnesota Twins’ Harrison Bader runs the bases on his solo home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Tampa Bay Rays’ Joshua Lowe celebrates after his run against the Minnesota Twins on a double by Yandy Diaz in the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 4, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

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This story has been corrected to show it was the second walk-off RBI for Bader.

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