Twins Win Home Opener 10-4, Highlighted by Tristan Gray’s Grand Slam

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Tristan Gray hit his first career grand slam in a seven-run seventh inning, leading the Minnesota Twins to a 10-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in their home opener. The game took place in cold and rainy conditions, delayed by an hour due to a downtown power outage.

Gray’s towering home run capped off the big inning, which started with a pitch hitting Twins’ All-Star Byron Buxton, forcing him out of the game after X-rays showed no fracture. Josh Bell contributed two hits and two RBIs for the Twins, including the tiebreaking single in the seventh.

The Rays’ starting pitchers, Joe Boyle (6-foot-8) and Twins’ Bailey Ober (6-foot-9), could have been a formidable frontcourt in basketball but had an unimpressive duel on the mound. Ober struggled early, while Boyle pitched well with nine strikeouts but made crucial errors.

Kody Funderburk earned the win by securing the final out in the top of the seventh. The Rays entered the game leading MLB with 10 errors, six committed by third baseman Junior Caminero.

The Twins’ next starter, RHP Mick Abel, will face Tampa Bay’s LHP Steven Matz on Saturday.