Carl Pavano pitched eight shutout innings for the Twins, but was denied the victory when closer Joe Nathan gave up a two-run double to Matt Joyce in the ninth.
Minnesota regained the lead in the 10th on Danny Valencia’s RBI single off Kyle Farnsworth (0-1).
Sam Fuld singled with one out in Tampa Bay 10th off Matt Capps (1-1) and Damon followed with his third homer of the season, a drive into the first row of the right-field seats. A season-low crowd of 10,042 cheered Damon all around the bases.
Delmon Young and Drew Butera drove in sixth-inning runs for the Twins, seemingly supplying all the offensive support Pavano needed.
Pavano struck out seven and walked two. He held the Rays hitless until Joyce singled with one out in the fifth.
After the game, the Twins said three-time AL batting champion Joe Mauer will be going on the 15-day disabled list because of leg weakness. The All-Star catcher had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the offseason.
In New York, Nick Swisher hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning and the New York Yankees rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the Baltimore Orioles and sweep the rain-shortened series.
After Joba Chamberlain used his big body to save a run in the eighth by blocking the plate and keeping the Yankees within 5-4, Jorge Posada led off the bottom of the ninth with a tying homer on the first pitch from closer Kevin Gregg .
Michael Gonzalez (0-1) walked Mark Teixeira and gave up a double to Alex Rodriguez to start the 10th. After Robinson Cano lined out, Swisher hit a fly and Teixeira easily beat right fielder Nick Markakis’ throw home. Swisher earned the Yankees’ first pie in the face of the season for a game-winner.
Mariano Rivera (1-0) gave up a leadoff single in the 10th. But Derrek Lee grounded into a double play and Vladimir Guerrero grounded out.
In Oakland, California, Detroit left-hander Phil Coke and two relievers combined on a three-hitter, and Ryan Raburn hit a two-out RBI double in the seventh to break a scoreless tie.
Ramon Santiago had two hits and drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth for Detroit. Manager Jim Leyland now needs one win to become the 19th manager in major league history to reach 1,500 for his career.
The Tigers managed only four hits, matching their season low, but held on behind seven shutout innings from Coke (1-2), who struck out two.
The Tigers, who won their previous two games on walkoff hits, couldn’t get anything going against Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez but broke through after Gonzalez left.
Santiago greeted reliever Tyson Ross (1-1) with a sharp single to center and was sacrificed to second. After Casper Wells flew out to right, Raburn doubled hard off the wall in right-center. Santiago, who also singled in the fifth, scored easily.
In Kansas City, Missouri, Bruce Chen pitched eight strong innings and Wilson Betemit and Alex Gordon drove in two runs apiece, leading the Kansas City Royals past the Seattle Mariners in a rain-shortened game.
The game was called in the bottom of the eighth after a delay of 47 minutes.
Chen (2-0) evened his career record at 50-50. He gave up six hits and won his sixth straight decision going back to last season. Gordon had a two-run double off Doug Fister (0-3) in the third inning and scored on Billy Butler’s RBI single for a 3-0 lead. Betemit hit a solo home run in the fourth and added a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
The crowd of 8,811 was smaller than any Royals home game drew last season.
