ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – James Shields gave up three runs over 7 1-3 innings and Rocco Baldelli had a two-run homer as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4.

Shields (3-0) allowed nine hits, including singles to the final two batters he faced in the eighth. He worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fifth by striking out Joe Mauer and getting Justin Morneau to hit into a double play.

Baldelli homered off Ramon Ortiz (3-2) during a four-run third that put the Devil Rays ahead 4-1.

The Twins got within 5-4 in the eighth on Jason Tyner’s sacrifice fly and run-scoring singles by Jason Bartlett and Nick Punto off Shawn Camp. Al Reyes pitched the ninth for his 10th save in as many chances.

After Baldelli’s shot in the third, Tampa Bay loaded the bases with no outs on two singles and a throwing error by Ortiz to second base on a potential double-play grounder by Ty Wigginton.

B.J. Upton followed with an RBI single and Carlos Pena hit a sacrifice fly. The Devil Rays are 2-for-11 with the bases loaded – with both hits by Upton – and less than two outs this season. Upton is 14-for-25 with runners in scoring position.

Tampa Bay took two of three in the series. The Devil Rays have won just five of the past 22 games against Minnesota.

Minnesota’s Torii Hunter extended his career-high hitting streak to 18-games with an eighth-inning single. Ortiz allowed five runs and seven hits in four innings. He is 6-2 in 11 career starts against Tampa Bay.

Carl Crawford made it 5-1 on a fourth-inning RBI double. It appeared that Crawford would get a triple, but he stumbled and fell after rounding second base and had return to second after getting up.

Carlos Pena hit his fifth homer, a solo shot in the eighth to give the Devil Rays a 6-4 lead.

The Twins took a 1-0 lead on Morneau’s sacrifice fly in the first.

Notes: X-rays taken on Minnesota RF Michael Cuddyer (bruised back) were negative. He was hurt after stumbling and then doing a forward roll between second and third Tuesday. “It’s sorer today than it was yesterday,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. … Minnesota LHP Dennys Reyes has been slowed by a tender left shoulder, leaving his status for Friday’s game against Boston undetermined. “We’ll see where he’s at tomorrow,” Gardenhire said. … Twins RHP Juan Rincon has experienced elbow soreness and will have his status determined daily. … Tampa Bay minor league RHP Wade Townsend, taken in the first round of the 2005 draft, left his start Wednesday for Class-A Columbus with arm sorness after three innings. The Devil Rays don’t believe the problem is serious. Townsend missed last season after undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery.

AP-ES-05-03-07 2153EDT