Twins at Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays turned a crushing loss into a satisfying victory with some late heroics in the series opener and go after their first three-game winning streak of the season Saturday when they host the Minnesota Twins. The Rays coughed up a four-run lead in the eighth inning and needed to score in the bottom of the ninth and 10th to earn an 8-7 triumph Friday night for their third win in their last four games.
“I think we’re in a good place right now,” Tampa Bay outfielder/designated hitter Denard Span told Fox Sports Sun of the locker room for the 6-13 team. “Everybody’s feeling confident. We’ve lost some tough games so far this season, but they were against good teams. I like where we are.” Left-hander Blake Snell looks to continue his strong start on the mound when he takes the ball for the Rays on Saturday against right-hander Kyle Gibson for the Twins, who have played back-to-back extra-inning contests. Eddie Rosario belted a grand slam to tie it and Max Kepler’s solo shot gave Minnesota a lead in the ninth, but the most important homer Friday for the Twins might have been Logan Morrison’s first of the season in the second inning after coming in batting .068. Brian Dozier had a pair of singles in the series opener for Minnesota and has hit safely in all 14 games this season while batting .290.
TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, FS North Plus (Minnesota), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kyle Gibson (1-0, 3.68 ERA) vs. Rays LH Blake Snell (2-1, 2.95)
Gibson’s performance level has gone downhill in each start since his season debut March 31, when he pitched six hitless innings with five walks in a win at Baltimore. The Missouri product lasted 4 1/3 innings in each of his next two starts, allowing two runs (one earned) against Seattle and five versus Houston in a pair of home games. Brad Miller is 6-for-12 with a pair of doubles against Gibson, who is 1-4 with a 7.04 ERA in six career starts versus Tampa Bay.
Snell has been outstanding in his last two outings, yielding just two runs combined over 12 1/3 innings on six hits with 19 strikeouts to earn a pair of wins. The 25-year-old Washington native did not walk a batter in his last start Monday against Texas after issuing 10 total in his first three appearances of 2018. Dozier is 2-for-5 with a triple and a homer versus Snell, who does not have a decision while compiling a 6.75 ERA in two career games against Minnesota.
WALK-OFFS
1. Minnesota 1B Joe Mauer, who is batting .333 overall, went hitless Friday (0-for-4) for only the second time in 13 games this season.
2. Span, who started his career with the Twins, had three RBIs in Friday’s victory and boasts a team-high 14 in the 16 games he has played this season.
3. Twins RHP Fernando Rodney has blown two straight save opportunities, giving up three runs (two earned) and five hits over his last three games.