BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (Interstat) — Steven Matz delivered a dominant six-inning performance and the Tampa Bay Rays’ offense erupted early to cruise past the Minnesota Twins 7-1 on Saturday afternoon at Target Field, snapping a three-game losing streak.

The Rays, who were routed 10-4 by the Twins just a day prior, flipped the script decisively behind their veteran left-hander. Matz stifled the Minnesota lineup, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out eight. He outdueled Twins starter Mick Abel, who took the loss after surrendering four runs on six hits over four innings.

The most important part of the game came in the top of the second inning, a frame that set the tone for the entire contest. After Abel navigated a first-inning threat, the Rays capitalized on defensive miscues and timely hitting to break the game open. Chandler Simpson led off with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Twins third baseman Royce Lewis. After a walk to Ben Williamson and a lineout, Richie Palacios was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Yandy Díaz was then plunked by an Abel offering, forcing in the game’s first run. Jonathan Aranda followed with the decisive blow, lacing a two-run double to right field to clear the bases and give Tampa Bay a commanding 3-0 lead. The three-run outburst, fueled by a hit-by-pitch, an error, and a key double, provided Matz with all the support he would need.

Minnesota managed its only response in the bottom half of the inning. Matt Wallner singled, Ryan Jeffers walked, and Brooks Lee drove in Wallner with a single that was compounded by an error from Rays center fielder Cedric Mullins. That cut the deficit to 3-1, but Matz limited the damage by striking out James Outman to strand two runners in scoring position.

Tampa Bay methodically extended its lead. They added a run in the third when Mullins scored on a double play grounder from Williamson. In the fifth, consecutive RBI singles from Williamson and Hunter Feduccia pushed the advantage to 6-1. Díaz capped the scoring in the eighth with an RBI triple that plated Palacios.

After Matz departed, the Rays’ bullpen preserved the comfortable lead. Cole Sulser worked two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. Mason Englert pitched a perfect ninth to seal the victory, which was witnessed by a crowd of 15,256 on a cool April afternoon. The game time was 2 hours, 39 minutes.

The offensive output was a welcome sight for Tampa Bay, which had scored just eight total runs in its previous three games, all losses. The Rays collected 10 hits, with Simpson, Mullins, and Palacios each recording two. Díaz finished with two RBIs.

For Minnesota, the bats never awakened. The Twins mustered only three hits total, with Lee’s second-inning single accounting for their sole RBI. Abel’s record fell to 0-2, while Matz improved to 2-0.

The victory evened both teams’ records at 3-5 on the young season. The result also defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 5-2 Twins victory, though their ELO system gave Tampa Bay a narrow 51.3% probability to win. The combined eight runs went under the betting over/under line of 7.5.

The Rays will look to win the series finale on Sunday before returning home to face the Chicago Cubs. The Twins, after seeing a two-game win streak snapped, will turn their focus to salvaging a series split before hosting the Detroit Tigers for a four-game set beginning Monday.