Overall, Andriese allowed the three runs on six hits (one home run) and a walk while tallying five strikeouts, the fourth time he’s struck out that many batters in his last five chances at starting. Despite an 11-10 record since the All-Star break, the Rays had baseball’s best run differential in that span at plus-35 runs enteringSunday’s game. Major League Baseball ground rules for all stadiums with roofs say the roof over the playing field is in play, so it was a live ball.
Advertisement
When a reporter suggested it was “crazy” that it took until August for a winning homestand, manager Kevin Cash said: “I can think of better words than insane”. Six was all the team needed tonight. “I definitely wanted to go deeper but it’s not all about me, it’s about getting a team win”.
The Rays are 6-3 on their homestand, which secures their first winning homestand of the season.
Nick Franklin cut the recently turned Rays deficit to one run in the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run off the batter’s eye in center, his second of the season and first since June 27 vs. Boston (64 at-bats in between).
“I go out there and compete with my team”, he said. The ball was eventually caught by third baseman Evan Longoria. Bobby Wilson followed with a single and drove in Steven Souza Jr. for a 7-1 lead. Forsythe added his 11th home run in the seventh off reliever Trevor May.
A sacrifice fly by Max Kepler (2-4 on the day) scored the Twins 4th run, scoring Brian Dozier. Longoria has 14 career home runs against the Twins, his most against any non-division opponent. “Just didn’t execute on a fastball to Sano there, and he hit it out for three runs”.
“Love the home runs”, Cash said. Oh, also he hit two home runs. The Twins expect to activate Plouffe as early as Monday.
The Rays will now head to Toronto for a three-game series starting Monday at 7:07 p.m. with Jake Odorizzi (6-5, 3.70 ERA) set to make his 24th start of the season opposite R.A. Dickey (8-12, 4.49 ERA). Duffy, acquired from San Francisco on Monday, said running the bases in a rehab game Friday with Class A Charlotte “felt nearly like nothing happened.”. OF Oswaldo Arcia (strained right elbow) and 1B Logan Morrison (strained right forearm) could be ready for minor league games in the next week.
Twins: RHP Kyle Gibson (3-6) will pitch the series finale.
Advertisement
Matt Andriese, making his second start since rejoining the rotation, took his third loss of the season.
