After winning the first two series on this nine-game road trip, and coming back from 4-0 in Sunday’s finale to tie the game, the Tampa Bay Rays just could not finish the job, and Jorge Polanco’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth broke a 4-4 tie and gave the Monnesota Twins a 5-4 victory in the rubber match of the weekend series.
Rays starter Luis Patino struggled in his outing Sunday, walking three and allowing a pair of runs in the first inning, as Josh Donaldson’s RBI single after walks to Kepler and Polanco made it 1-0. After Luis Arraez walked to load the bases, Mitch Garver struck out for the first out of the inning. Trevor Larnach’s fielder’s choice grounder brought in Polanco to make it 2-0.
Patino would not allow another run, but was lifted after just three innings having thrown 69 pitches and walking five on the afternoon. Ryan Sherriff got the first two outs of the fourth, but then walked Kepler and Polanco, prompting manager Kevin Cash to bring in Andrew Kittredge, who gave up a double to Josh Donaldson to make ot 4-0.
Twins left-hander Charlie Barnes cruised rather easily through the first four innings, but finally allowed Tampa Bay to get on the board in the fifth on a solo homer by Mike Zunino, his 25th of the season, matching his career high for a single season.
The Rays pulled back to within a run in the six off reliever Edgar Garcia, as Austin Meadows drew a two-out walk, and scored on the next pitch when Wander Franco blasted his sixth home run of the year into the seats in right.
Tampa Bay then tied the game in the seventh against Tyler Duffey, who walked Jordan Luplow to start the inning, who took second on a fielder’s choice by Mike Brosseau two batters later, and a walk to Joey Wendle loaded the bases. Randy Arozarena’s infield single brought in Luplow to tie the game, but Nelson Cruz struck out and Austin Meadows popped out to end the threat and keep the game tied.
The Rays also stranded a runner at third base in the eighth inning, as Franco, who doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Manuel Margot, could not be driven in.
After getting two scoreless innings of relief from both Adam Conley and JT Chargois, Matt Wisler allowed a leadoff triple to Kepler, and Polanco’s sacrifice fly would end the game.
The loss decreases Tampa Bay’s lead in the American League East to three games over Boston.
The Rays return home Monday to open a seven-game homestand at Tropicana Field beginning with the first of four against Baltimore. Josh Fleming (9-6, 4.96 ERA) will get the start, taking on Matt Harvey (6-11, 6.10 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
