The Tampa Bay Rays are merely operating out of time.
Needing a powerful conclusion to their seven-game homestand, the Rays misplaced for the third time in 4 outings Monday and can look to even it up in opposition to the Minnesota Twins within the second recreation of their four-game set Tuesday evening in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The opener Monday began with fireworks as Minnesota constructed a 4-2 lead behind a three-run laser from Trevor Larnach, whose fifteenth homer gave the American League Central membership some separation.
After starter Simeon Woods Richardson, who pitched into the fourth inning, the Twins’ bullpen zipped by way of 4 1/3 innings and gave up only one run — a solo homer to Jonny DeLuca within the eighth — earlier than turning to nearer Jhoan Duran.
The fireballer locked it down with an ideal ninth, getting the key’s high prospect Junior Caminero with an offspeed pitch for a check-swing strikeout to finish the fourth assembly between the groups.
Minnesota squared the season collection at 2. All 4 contests have been determined by one run.
Normally very strong in one-run video games, the Rays (67-70) have been doomed by unsuccessful at-bats with runners in scoring place, ending 1-for-9.
Tampa Bay supervisor Kevin Money mentioned earlier than the sport that his membership needed to get “hotter than scorching” over the ultimate 25 video games for a wild-card spot, however Monday was simply extra of the identical.
“It is powerful, little doubt,” Money mentioned after his crew fell three video games beneath .500 for the primary time since June 22. “We talked concerning the significance of this collection. It is a problem. We have got to discover a option to come again, win tomorrow and see the place the following couple of video games go.”
The Twins (75-62) gained a recreation within the hunt for the second wild-card spot because the Kansas Metropolis Royals (75-64) misplaced for the sixth straight time, 4-2, to the Cleveland Guardians.
Minnesota supervisor Rocco Baldelli, who earned his 450th profession win, mentioned the matchup rapidly grew to become a bullpen recreation.
His relievers allowed 4 hits, struck out eight and did not stroll a batter.
“It must be a confidence increase for our group,” Baldelli mentioned of his aid corps. “There have been plenty of calls to the bullpen, greater than most video games. … I instructed them it is mainly going to be a bullpen type of battle between each groups.
“Our (relievers) have been nice. A few of them have been contemporary, a few of them have been removed from contemporary. However we bought the win, and that is crucial factor.”
Tampa Bay’s Jeffrey Springs will make his seventh begin because the left-hander continues to regain his kind after Tommy John surgical procedure 16 months in the past.
In his most up-to-date outing final Tuesday in Seattle, Springs (1-2, 3.67 ERA) made his finest begin of 2024. He allowed only one hit in 5 shutout innings with 9 strikeouts and two walks, however needed to accept a no-decision.
Over one begin and one aid look in opposition to the Twins, Springs is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 6 1/3 innings. Minnesota has managed simply two hits and two walks in opposition to him, with six strikeouts.
Rookie right-hander David Festa (2-4, 4.89) will seem in his tenth recreation for the Twins and make his ninth profession begin and first in opposition to the Rays.
The Seton Corridor product has misplaced his final two begins to the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals.
–Discipline Stage Media
