FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Joe Nathan pitched a perfect inning for Minnesota in the closer's second appearance in his comeback from major elbow surgery, and the Twins beat an eager Manny Ramirez and the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Friday.
Ramirez was not originally on the travel roster, but he asked manager Joe Maddon if he could play. Ramirez started in left field and hit a two-out double off the left-field wall in the first, the only hit allowed by Twins starter Kevin Slowey over three scoreless innings. Evan Longoria had an RBI single for the Rays.
Nathan got two flyouts and struck out Jose Lobaton to finish the fifth inning.
Matt Tolbert scored the go-ahead run in the eighth after entering the game as a pinch-runner. Jason Kubel drove in three runs.
Received 03/04/11 04:47 pm ET
