ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ) _ The Tampa Bay Rays kept things simple, clinching the first playoff berth in franchise history on their own.

Carlos Pena hit a two-run double and Scott Kazmir rebounded from the worst start of his career to pitch six scoreless innings today, helping the AL East leaders wrap up at least a wild-card spot with a 7-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

Cliff Floyd and Fernando Perez capped the biggest win in the club's 11 seasons with solo home runs. The Rays also extended their lead in the division to 2½ games over Boston, which lost 6-3 at Toronto.

The crowd of 36,048 that packed Tropicana Field stood for entire ninth inning, chanting "Let's Go Rays" and clanging cowbells. The Twins delayed the celebration by scoring twice, but the party was on once third baseman Evan Longoria chased down Joe Mauer's foul pop for the final out.

The struggling Twins, who have lost six of seven, began the day 2½ games behind the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox, who were at Kansas City on Saturday night. They trail the Red Sox by 7½ in the wild-card race.

Tampa Bay could have clinched without winning if the White Sox and New York Yankees each lost once during the weekend.

But manager Joe Maddon and his players had made it clear they preferred to take care of their own business.

Pena's double off Kevin Slowey (12-11) gave Kazmir a 2-0 lead in the third inning. The Rays added three more in the fifth on Longoria's RBI double, Dioner Navarro's run-scoring single and pinch-hitter Rocco Baldelli's bases-loaded walk.

Perez homered off Dennys Reyes in the sixth and Floyd, one of the veterans brought in last winter to provide leadership in a young clubhouse, went deep in the seventh against Matt Guerrier.

In some ways it probably was fitting that Kazmir (12-7) started the game that brought the perennial last-place franchise its first postseason berth.

At 24, he's a two-time All-Star and already the club's career wins leader. And he boldly stated during spring training that the Rays, who had never won more than 70 games in a season, not only were talented enough to compete in the AL East but were good enough to play into October.

Boston roughed up the Rays ace during a 13-5 win over Tampa Bay last Monday, but the left-hander was a different pitcher against the Twins, allowing just five hits.

Minnesota loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth when Mauer singled, Justin Morneau doubled and Michael Cuddyer was hit by a pitch.

But Kazmir, who matched a career high by allowing nine runs in three-plus innings against Boston, escaped. He got some help from Morneau, who was caught off second after Delmon Young flied out to swallow center field for the first out.

Mauer tagged up and started home before deciding against trying to score. Pena cut off the throw from center fielder Perez and threw to shortstop Jason Bartlett, who put the tag on Morneau scrambling back to second base. Brendan Harris flied to right to end the threat.

The Twins threatened again in the sixth when Alexi Casilla and Mauer singled, but Morneau grounded into a double play and Cuddyer flied out to end the inning.

The Rays lost their shutout in the ninth when Troy Percival surrendered an RBI single to Denard Span before being replaced by Trever Miller. Casilla's run-scoring groundout made it 7-2 before Miller retired Mauer to start the celebration.

Notes:@ Mauer's fourth-inning single gave him a 10-game hitting streak. ... The sellout was the seventh at Tropicana Field this year. Sunday's game is also sold out, giving the Rays full houses for consecutive games for the only the second time in club history. ... With 98 RBIs — 51 since the All-Star break — Pena is two shy of joining Fred McGriff and Aubrey Huff as the only players to drive in 100 twice for Tampa Bay. ... Rays CF B.J. Upton, out since Sept. 8 with a strained left quadriceps, pinch hit in the fourth inning and remained in the game.