Andy Pettitte (4-1) won consecutive starts for the first time this year, allowing four runs and 12 hits in 6 2/3 innings. Jose Veras relieved in the seventh and loaded the bases with a walk, then retired Carlos Gomez on a flyout to protect a 6-4 lead.
Teixeira was hitting .198 May 8 with five homers and 15 RBIs. Since Rodriguez returned to the lineup that night, Teixeira has improved his average to .239, doubled his home run total, and increased his RBIs to 29.
"Pitchers are just making a few more mistakes," Teixeira said. "It puts a lot of pressure on them when Alex is in the lineup."
Michael Cuddyer and Denard Span homered for the Twins.
"I can't wait to get out of here," Span said. "Not just the stadium, but the whole city."
Rays 13, Athletics 4 - Jason Bartlett drove in a career-high five runs to help host Tampa Bay beat struggling Oakland for a season-best four-game winning streak.
Rookie righthander Jeff Niemann (4-3) allowed four runs and eight hits in eight innings. He struck out three and walked none.
Jason Isringhausen, who came off the DL Sunday, pitched the ninth for Tampa Bay - his first appearance in the majors since undergoing right elbow surgery in September, when he was with the Cardinals.
Bartlett went 3 for 3 with a walk to improve his batting average to .384. He had a two-run single off Sean Gallagher (1-2) in the first, as well as a run-scoring triple in the fifth and a two-run single in the sixth off Gio Gonzalez.
Rockies 5, Braves 1 - Jason Marquis outdid Derek Lowe, and Dexter Fowler drove in one run and scored another for visiting Colorado.
Marquis (5-3) allowed five hits and one run in eight innings, striking out three and walking three.
Lowe (5-2) was attempting to become the NL's first six-game winner.
Dodgers 3, Mets 2 - Errors by Gold Glove center fielder Carlos Beltran and fill-in first baseman Jeremy Reed in the 11th inning proved costly for New York, which had the go-ahead run taken away on an appeal play in the top of the inning at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers are a major league-best 27-13 overall, and 14 games over .500 for the first time since finishing 2006 at 88-74.
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