The Tampa Bay Rays now have a 36-39 record after winning a series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, putting them above .500 on the road this season.
The series didn’t start well for the Rays, as they lost the first game after squandering a 4-0 lead. The Twins tied the game in the fourth inning with a three-run double by Willi Castro and an RBI from Trevor Larnach. Despite Aaron Civale giving up the initial four earned runs, Rays’ closer Pete Fairbanks took the loss when Carlos Santana, pinch hitting, delivered the winning run for Minnesota in a 7-6 defeat for Tampa Bay.
The Rays bounced back with tight wins in the following games, both of which went into extra innings. In Wednesday’s middle game, starting pitchers Taj Bradley and Joe Ryan combined for 12 innings, with the Twins leading 2-1 when they exited. The Rays tied the game in the seventh with an RBI infield hit from Yandy Diaz. Strong relief pitching from Colin Poche, Kevin Kelly, and Jason Adam, who earned the win, kept the Twins scoreless in the extra innings. Jonny DeLuca then delivered a hit down the third baseline, leading to a Minnesota throwing error that allowed Randy Arozarena to score, and Phil Maton secured the save for a Rays’ win.
In the series-deciding third game, the Rays’ offense came alive, scoring seven runs. Diaz went 2-5 with a two-run homer, and Jose Siri also homered, bringing his season total to nine. Extra innings were required again as the Twins tied the game 6-6 with a four-run bottom of the ninth, highlighted by home runs from Carlos Santana and Jose Miranda. DeLuca again proved crucial with a hit to center field that scored Taylor Walls, and Fairbanks held on with a two-inning save for a 7-6 Rays’ victory.
This series win was crucial for Tampa Bay as they look to improve their record heading into the summer and the trade deadline. Despite being below .500 for the month of June, the Rays’ performance against the Twins could signal a turnaround for the rest of the season.
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