Tyler Glasnow allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings, and minor-leaguers Xavier Edwards and Brett Sullivan each drove in a pair, but the Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Minnesota Twins 6-5 in a six-inning Spring Training contest Monday at Charlotte Sports park.
Glasnow threw 34 pitches in his first Spring Training outing of 2021, working a clean first inning before giving up a solo homer to Brent Rooker on the first pitch he threw in the second. Minnesota then loaded the bases with two out in the inning, and Luis Arraez forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk to end the right-hander’s afternoon.
The Rays rallied to take the lead in the third, loading the bases against Twins reliever Juan Minaya, and scoring twice on a base hit by Edwards and making it 3-2 on a Yandy Diaz double.
Sullivan’s two-run ground rule double in the fourth gave Tampa Bay a 5-2 lead, but Minnesota scored four times in the top of the fifth on an RBI double by Jake Cave off Tyler Zombro, a sacrifice fly by Rooker, and finally a two-run homer by Kyle Garlick, his first of the spring.
Along with Glasnow, Tampa Bay got a perfect relief outing from lefty Dietrich Enns, and a scoreless frame from Brian Moran.
Wendle OK After Being Hit in Face
Second baseman Joey Wendle left the game in the first inning after being hit on the helmet by a pitch from Twins starter Lewis Thorpe. He suffered a facial contusion, but said after the game that he passed concussion testing and will not require any further testing.
Next Up This Spring For Rays
Tampa Bay heads to Fort Myers for the first time this Grapefruit League season to take on the Boston Red Sox. Tuesday’s contest will be a nine-inning game because it is scheduled to be shown on ESPN. Michael Wacha will get the start, taking on Martin Perez. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 pm.
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.
