- Kevin Tall
- Zobrist swinging a hot bat; stock photo
Earlier in the day, Ben Zobrist led the Rays to a demoralizing 15-3 conquest of the Minnesota Twins with eight RBI in the first half of a day-night double-header.
Four hours later, he was at it again.
Picking up right where he left off, Zobrist victimized Minnesota call-up Anthony Swarzak with Matt Joyce on base after leading off the top of the second inning with a base hit; Big Ben’s bomb came on the 0-1 offering from the Minnesota righty.
John Jaso also took Swarzak deep in the top of the fourth—one of eight hits he allowed—with a monster shot to right field, adding another run for the seemingly tireless Rays.
One of those hits happened to be Zobrist’s leadoff double in the top of the sixth. Casey Kotchman moved Zorilla to third with his base hit and Sean Rodriguez grounded into a fielder’s choice, with Kotchman out at second and Zobrist crossing the plate to make it 4-0. This prompted Swarzak’s ouster from the affair in favor of reliever Glen Perkins. Jaso’s one-out double scored Rodriquez to give the Rays a five-run lead.
