Yandy Díaz hit a sacrifice fly in the 18th inning to break a tie that lasted since the second, and the Tampa Bay Rays scored a 5-2 victory Thursday to avoid being swept in a series by the Minnesota Twins for the first time in 13 years.
Ryan Yarbrough (7-3) threw three of the 16 scoreless innings logged by Rays relievers to earn the victory. The bullpen that entered the game with a 3.51 ERA, good for third-lowest in the majors, allowed only six hits against 19 strikeouts.
Yarbrough was the eighth reliever and 22nd player used by the Rays during the game that lasted 5:42 after rain delayed the first pitch by 57 minutes.
The Twins first eight relievers combined to allow two hits over 10 innings. Starter Kyle Gibson joined the club in the 17th inning, his first relief appearance in 170 career games. Then Ryne Harper (3-1) faltered in the 18th, pitching for the third straight game and the sixth time in 10 days.
