ARLINGTON, Texas — The Minnesota Twins want to remind everyone they're playing games that matter, too.

For the second straight game, the Twins spoiled the celebrated return of Ivan Rodriguez to the Texas Rangers by rallying for a 5-4 victory Wednesday night when Denard Span hit a tying double and slid past the 14-time All-Star catcher with the go-ahead run in the sixth inning.

Span scored when the throw from center fielder Marlon Byrd took a hop in front of Rodriguez and slipped between the legs of the 13-time Gold Glove winner. The rally from a 4-0 deficit came a day after the Twins were down 5-0 before coming back to ruin Pudge's arrival in a trade with Houston.

The Rangers fell a game behind Boston for the AL wild-card lead, while the Twins pulled within 5½ games of Detroit in the AL Central despite being four games under .500

"There's no die, no give-up," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We still believe. Wins like this are very important for our team. We're in a race here and we gained a game. The last two nights we've battled against a very good team."

Scott Baker (11-7) gave up nine hits and four runs and struck out six in 5 1-3 innings for Minnesota. After Rodriguez started a string of four straight singles that gave the Rangers a 3-0 lead in the third, Baker settled down and retired the heart of the Rangers lineup in order.

"That start could have very easily gone south fast," said Baker, who won his fifth straight decision. "But I continued to make good pitches and for the most part it worked out."

The Twins wiped out a Texas lead with a four-run sixth for the second night in a row.