MLB: Twins rally past Brewers

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Twins used a two-run, two-out rally in the seventh inning to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-4 Wednesday at Target Field.
With the game tied at 4-4, Twins left fielder Josh Willingham ripped a double off the wall in right-center field. Right fielder Oswaldo Arcia followed with an RBI single to right, scoring Willingham. Arcia advanced on Ryan Braun’s off-target throw to the plate and scored when Trevor Plouffe dribbled a grounder just past first baseman Lyle Overbay to make it 6-4.
The two runs made a winner of Twins starter Ricky Nolasco (4-5). Nolasco, who ran into trouble in his seventh and final inning, surrendering a 4-1 lead on a three-run homer by Brewers designated hitter Aramis Ramirez, allowed four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.
Brewers right-hander Marco Estrada was on the hook for the loss until Ramirez’s 413-foot homer to center tied the game. Estrada tossed six innings and allowed four runs on six hits, three walks and a hit batter.
Twins righty Casey Fien worked a scoreless eighth in front of closer Glen Perkins, who retired the Brewers in order on seven pitches for his 16th save.
Milwaukee got on the board first thanks to back-to-back, two-out doubles from second baseman Rickie Weeks and third baseman Mark Reynolds in the second inning.
The Twins, who used the long ball to build an insurmountable lead Tuesday night at Miller Park, used it again in the fourth inning Wednesday to grab the lead.
After a walk by second baseman Brian Dozier and a single by Willingham put two on with one out, Arcia hammered a 2-1 fastball from Estrada off the top of the foul pole in right field for his third homer of the season.
Minnesota added to its lead in the fifth after Estrada gave up a single, hit Dozier with a pitch then walked two batters - all with one out. He escaped further damage by forcing Arcia and Plouffe into two straight groundouts to end the inning down only 4-1.
NOTES: Brewers 3B Aramis Ramirez was activated off the 15-day disabled list after missing three weeks of action. With Milwaukee playing in an American League ballpark, Ramirez was eased into the lineup as the designated hitter. ... Twins OF Sam Fuld (concussion) took part in pregame stretching on the field as well as baseball activities. If there are no setbacks over the next 24 hours, Fuld will fly to the East Coast for a rehab assignment with Double-A New Britain this weekend. ... Twins RHP Mike Pelfrey will get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews on his ailing right elbow Monday.