Twins post 16-11 mark for April

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Twins might not be off to the outstanding start they had last season. Their confidence is just as high, though.

Last year Minnesota went 18-6 in April and led the AL Central for most of the first half.

The Twins finished this April a respectable 16-11 after Tuesday night's 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

"Last year's start, we were clicking from the word go. But we haven't played our best baseball yet," Doug Mientkiewicz said.

Kyle Lohse (2-1) gave up two runs on six hits in seven innings, and Torii Hunter hit his ninth home run for the Twins, who are a half-game behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.

"We're doing whatever it takes," Lohse said. "We're going out there every time and competing."

Hunter, who went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the first inning that gave the Twins a 3-0 lead, made a diving grab in the ninth to rob Chris Gomez. The shot to center looked like it was out of reach, but Hunter -- who won a Gold Glove last season -- sprawled to make the catch, bringing the crowd to its feet.

"He's a superstar waiting to happen," Mientkiewicz said. "He's got that Puckett-like quality."

His homer set a club mark for April. He also matched the team record for hits in the month with 39, tying Kirby Puckett (1994) and Paul Molitor (1996).

"There's a lot of guys on this team who are contributing, but Torii Hunter by far and away has been the leader offensively," Denny Hocking said. "Who knows where we'd be without Torii Hunter."

Tampa Bay's Greg Vaughn, hitless in 33 at-bats, went 0-for-4 to drop his batting average to .099, the lowest among major league regulars. Vaughn struck out twice.

"He's a sturdy hitter," starting pitcher Ryan Rupe said. "I don't think he's ever been through a slump like this before. It's not like he's coming to the park late or anything, he's working hard."

TAMPA BAY MINNESOTA

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Abrnth 2b 3 0 0 0 Kielty lf 4 1 2 1

Tyner lf 4 0 0 0 Cnizaro 2b 2 0 1 1

Cox 1b 4 0 1 0 Mntkw 1b 3 0 0 1

Grieve rf 4 1 2 1 Bchnan dh 4 1 2 0

GVghn dh 4 0 0 0 THnter cf 4 1 2 2

Hall c 4 0 0 0 Koskie 3b 4 0 0 0

Gomez ss 3 1 1 0 Mohr rf 3 1 1 0

RJhson 3b 4 1 1 0 Przyns c 4 1 1 0

Conti cf 3 0 2 2 Hcking ss 2 1 1 0

Totals 33 3 7 3 Totals 30 6 10 5

Tampa Bay 000 020 010 -- 3

Minnesota 330 000 00x -- 6

E--Conti (1), Hocking (3). DP--Tampa Bay 2. LOB--Tampa Bay 5, Minnesota 5. 2B--Gomez (8), Conti 2 (2), Kielty (4), Mohr (6). HR--Grieve (6), THunter (9). CS--GVaughn (2). S--Canizaro. SF--Mientkiewicz.

IP H R ER BB SO

Tampa Bay

Rupe L,3-2 5 8 6 5 1 3

Kent 2 2 0 0 2 0

Yan 1 0 0 0 0 1

Minnesota

Lohse W,2-1 7 6 2 2 2 3

Wells 1 1 1 1 0 0

Guardado S,10 1 0 0 0 0 0

Umpires--Home, Brian O'Nora; First, Alfonso Marquez; Second, Tim Welke; Third, Gary Cederstrom.

T--2:25. A--10,205 (48,678).