Struggling Rays defeat Twins to halt skid
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Tampa Bay Rays got timely hitting from the bottom of the batting order, lifting them to a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Friday night.
The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for the Rays, who won for the first time since a 9-5 win over the New York Yankees last Saturday, and for just the second time in their last 10 games.
With the game tied at 2-2 and one out in the eighth inning, Tampa got back-to-back singles from Taylor Motter and Hank Conger, the eight and nine-hitters in the lineup, to kickstart a rally against Twins starter Ricky Nolasco. Conger advanced to third on a fielding error by right fielder Max Kepler.
Two batters later, after Nolasco got Brandon Guyer to pop out to shallow center, Brad Miller's dribbler got through the hold between first and second, just past a diving Brian Dozier, to score the winning run.
The Twins got a double and a pair of walks against Rays closer Alex Colome in the eighth inning, but Kepler struck out on three pitches with the bases loaded.
Logan Morrison added a solo home run in the top of the ninth as insurance.
Erasmo Ramirez (7-4) earned the win, working one inning of scoreless relief after right-hander Jake Odorizzi departed following six innings and a quality start.
Nolasco (2-4) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs -- two of them earned -- on six hits in 7 2/3 innings, walking none and striking out seven.
Colome returned to work around a hit batter and a single in the ninth for his 13th save in as many tries.
Odorizzi was solid as well, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks in six innings, striking out six.
Evan Longoria's first-inning homer off Nolasco was his 11th of the season and second in as many games against the Twins, giving the Rays an early 1-0 lead.
Odorizzi got through the first two innings unscathed, but allowed a leadoff triple to Byron Buxton in the bottom of the third. A one-out walk to Joe Mauer put runners on the corners and Twins manager Paul Molitor put Mauer in motion with Trevor Plouffe at the plate. Good thing he did; Plouffe grounded out to short, but Mauer reached second safely, allowing Buxton to scamper in from third for a 2-1 lead.
Steven Souza Jr. led off the top of the fifth with a double, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Mikie Mahtook.
NOTES: Rays INF Steve Pearce remained out of the starting lineup because of a sore left elbow. Pearce singled in the ninth inning as a pinch hitter on Thursday. ... Twins OF Miguel Sano's MRI on his sore hamstring didn't reveal any significant damage. There is no timetable for Sano, who was placed on the disabled list Wednesday, to return to the lineup. ... Twins RHP Kyle Gibson will make a rehab start for Triple-A Rochester on Sunday in Louisville. Gibson, who has been on the disabled list since late April with a right shoulder strain, was expected to return Thursday but had his start delayed because of a stiff back. ... Tampa Bay and Minnesota will play the third game of a four-game series on Saturday afternoon at Target Field. Rays RHP Matt Andriese (3-0, 2.36 ERA) will oppose Twins RHP Ervin Santana (1-4, 4.13).