Twins Rally After Pregame Power Outage for Home Opener Win

Fans brave cold, rain to cheer on comeback victory over Rays

Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:36am

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A dynamic, fragmented painting in bold geometric shapes and colors representing the action and atmosphere of a baseball game, with players, field, and crowd abstracted into an energetic visual composition.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the energy and excitement of the Twins' home opener comeback victory.Minneapolis Today

The Minnesota Twins overcame a pregame power outage at Target Field to rally for a 10-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in their home opener. The game was delayed nearly an hour due to the outage, but the crowd of over 36,000 fans stuck around and were rewarded with a seven-run seventh inning capped by a grand slam from Tristan Gray. Despite recent struggles, Twins executive chair Tom Pohlad expressed optimism about reconnecting with the team's fan base through improved on-field performance.

Why it matters

The Twins have struggled to win back fans in recent years after cutting payroll following a playoff appearance in 2023. This home opener victory, in the face of adversity from the power outage, represents an opportunity for the team to start rebuilding trust and excitement within the community.

The details

With the field tarp on and batting practice disrupted by rain, the power suddenly went out at Target Field just before the scheduled first pitch. The outage, caused by equipment failure, delayed the game by nearly an hour. But the crowd of over 36,000 fans, nearly 94% capacity, remained engaged, cheering as each bank of lights came back on. The team then rallied from an early deficit, scoring seven runs in the seventh inning capped by a grand slam from Tristan Gray to secure a 10-4 victory over the Rays.

  • The power outage occurred just before the scheduled first pitch on Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • The game was delayed by nearly an hour due to the outage.
  • The Twins scored seven runs in the seventh inning to take the lead and win the game.

The players

Tom Pohlad

The executive chair of the Minnesota Twins, who recently assumed control of the franchise from his younger brother and is working to rebuild the team's relationship with its fan base.

Tristan Gray

The Twins player who hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to help lead the team to victory in the home opener.

Byron Buxton

The Twins center fielder who expressed appreciation for the fans sticking with the team through the challenging weather and power outage.

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What they’re saying

“'We can sell all the $2 beers we want. We can have all the concerts we want. But people want to see a winner. The product we put on the field is ultimately what is going to drive hope within our fan base.'”

— Tom Pohlad, Executive Chair, Minnesota Twins

“'To stick with us through opening day, it means a lot. There is a lot more that goes into it than just them being in the stands. I just wanted to let them know it did not go unnoticed. Having them cheer us all nine innings, that definitely carried us.'”

— Byron Buxton, Center Fielder, Minnesota Twins

What’s next

The Twins will look to build on this home opener victory and continue reconnecting with their fan base throughout the season.

The takeaway

The Twins' home opener win, despite the pregame power outage, represents an important step in the team's efforts to regain the trust and enthusiasm of their fan base after recent struggles. Overcoming adversity and delivering an exciting comeback victory on opening day provides a strong foundation for the Twins to build upon as they work to put a consistent winner on the field.