Jeremy Hellickson pitched brilliantly in his major league debut, going seven strong innings to lift the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-2 victory over the visiting Minnesota Twins on Monday night.

Called up from Triple-A Durham earlier Monday, Hellickson (1-0) allowed two runs on three hits in snapping the Twins' eight-game winning streak. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out six and walked two.

Matt Joyce had a two-run double and B.J. Upton collected three hits as the surging Rays won for the ninth time in their last 10 games.

Carl Crawford added an RBI double and Evan Longoria contributed a run-scoring single for Tampa Bay, which entered the day just one game behind the American League East-leading New York Yankees.

Twins starter Carl Pavano (13-7) lost for the first time since June 3 as Minnesota squandered a chance to move into a tie with the Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central.

Pavano, who had won his last four starts and was 8-0 in his last 10 outings, surrendered four runs on nine hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Jason Kubel accounted for both of Minnesota’s runs with a solo homer and an RBI single.