Rays 5, Twins 0: Literal Rays Beat Twins in Sweltering Series Finale

[Sherry Cerny]

Image courtesy of © Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Box Score
Starting Pitcher: Pablo López 5 IP, 4H, 4ER, 2BB, 3K (95 pitches, 63 strikes (66%))
Home Runs: None
Bottom 3 WPA: Pablo López (-.184); Royce Lewis (.-127); Ryan Jeffers (-.075)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

There are few things less comfortable than touching rubber on a hot day, and the Twins never looked at ease during their rubber match with the Rays Wednesday. The game-time temperature was over 90°, with a heat index more in the range of a Jhoan Duran fastball. The Twins put together a tepid first-inning rally, but nothing came of it. That would turn out to be emblematic of the whole game.

Pablo Lopez started out hot—literally and figuratively. Pablo gave up a single off his sweeper to Brandon Lowe, but got a force out at second. The temperature on the field was 119 degrees at the start of the game and the water in the dirt was maybe just a little too much. When Pablo went to recover the ball, he slipped and disturbed the sand. The crew came out to put in a little mud patch and the game resumed. López cruised through three frames, but he was visibly off, even then.

The Twins ace labored heavily through the fourth inning, and the Rays were able to get on the board starting with a home run from Brandon Lowe. Jonathan Aranda made it on a single to right-center, and was brought home on another homer from Junior Caminero. The Rays were up 3-0 with no outs in the frame. A mound visit gave a very tired and sweaty Lopez a moment to breathe and catch up to himself.

Chandler Simpson, who had reached on a single, stole second base and Lopez walked Kameron Misner, who stole second, in tandem with Simpson stealing third during a Danny Jensen plate appearance. Jensen’s hit was a pop fly to second baseman, Brooks Lee, which resulted in an out, and the two stolen bases were stifled. 

Cole Sands came out for the sixth inning and threw a quick 15 pitches to get out of the inning, a near-perfect inning. The Twins bullpen continues to be a menace to hitters, as Jorge Alcala proved in the seventh with another shutout, 11-pitch inning. 

Alas, after that quick clap of Tampa thunder, the game was never very much in doubt. There was a chance to tilt the balance in the seventh, with two runners aboard, but a Royce Lewis fly ball died at the wall in right-center field. That would be as close as the Twins came to scoring, let alone catching up. Carson McCusker, who joined the Twins last week, got his first hit of his career, but it wasn't enough.

The Twins drop the series to the Rays, and now head to the West Coast to continue this 10-game road series. Unfortunately, they'll find an even better and more balanced opponent in Seattle. Maybe the change in weather will help.

What’s Next?
Minnesota is off Thursday, and their schedule will resume (hopefully, with one or two more healthy hitters at their disposal) Friday night. Zebby Matthews (0-1, 7.71ERA) will be taking the mound against a pitcher to be announced at a later time. The game will start at 9:10 pm CST. 

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

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[Peter]

Worse part of this we have Crushing loss!!! 😭🤬😤😡🤮💩and no game tomorrow-totally ruined whole day- this could be start of long losing streak (hope I’m wrong but bad feeling it’s going to happen)don’t count on wolves winning tonight either they are done-with Royce either trade him or send him down! Enough of this!!! His act has worn thin!!! The stupid face paint-no home runs/grand slams-he’s a fraud!!! Only players that care are Clemens/bader/corea!!! Need buxton/wallner back asap!!! Just. Horrible loss to start long road trip!!!!😡🤮💩👎😤🤬

[SD happy]

19 minutes ago, Peter said:

Worse part of this we have Crushing loss!!! 😭🤬😤😡🤮💩and no game tomorrow-totally ruined whole day- this could be start of long losing streak (hope I’m wrong but bad feeling it’s going to happen)don’t count on wolves winning tonight either they are done-with Royce either trade him or send him down! Enough of this!!! His act has worn thin!!! The stupid face paint-no home runs/grand slams-he’s a fraud!!! Only players that care are Clemens/bader/corea!!! Need buxton/wallner back asap!!! Just. Horrible loss to start long road trip!!!!😡🤮💩👎😤🤬

Breathe, Peter, breathe! It will be okay!

[JD-TWINS]

I’m not going to use any emoji’s - hope that’s cool.

Since STREAK ended Team is 4-5 and has scored 2 or less runs in all 5 losses. Can’t win if you can’t score!!

Desparate for Buxton & Wallner - even Bader with better health this weekend - please. Watching Kiersey start in CF, & then ultimately in the box , reminds me of watching an extremely overmatched kid playing as a Sophomore in high school. It’s ugly!

Larnach - Correa - Jeffers - France and then desperation, this is the line-up from this afternoon. Need to get healthy fast before they start giving back all the hard work done over 3 weeks!

[thelanges5]

3-3 in the last 2 series scoring 16 runs in those 6 games. Offense is back in its shell. 

[Blyleven2011]

It was a loss ,a shut out loss , when the weather isn't to the players liking ,  they take the field but don't seem to want to play  ...

It wasn't much to work with with the lineup , wish we could find a normal leadoff hitter to spark something with hitting and stealing abilities ...

[Schmoeman5]

1 hour ago, Peter said:

Worse part of this we have Crushing loss!!! 😭🤬😤😡🤮💩and no game tomorrow-totally ruined whole day- this could be start of long losing streak (hope I’m wrong but bad feeling it’s going to happen)don’t count on wolves winning tonight either they are done-with Royce either trade him or send him down! Enough of this!!! His act has worn thin!!! The stupid face paint-no home runs/grand slams-he’s a fraud!!! Only players that care are Clemens/bader/corea!!! Need buxton/wallner back asap!!! Just. Horrible loss to start long road trip!!!!😡🤮💩👎😤🤬

Blasphemy!

[USAFChief]

Desultory. 

[Western SD Fan]

I'm going to try to look positive and suggest today was a hot day on getaway day with a day off and crossing the country.  Think about it as having to work on a Friday afternoon on Memorial Day weekend and you have plans.  Many people's job performance is probably satisfactory at best.  I'm much more concerned that the lack of offense continues to put pressure on the pitching to be perfect or get tagged with a loss. I do hope that we pick up some health on the trip to Seattle.  It does discourage me that Wallner is DH-ing tonight.  Fingers crossed they want to give him another day (Thursday) in Omaha before hopping that red eye to Seattle.

[USAFChief]

37 minutes ago, karcherd said:

It doesn't appear there is any sense of urgency to get Wallner up here.  Earlier this week Rockhead said he had to play two games in a row in RF before he came back, tonight he is DH.  I believe they need some help on offense, get him up here.

He could be doing the exact same thing on the Twins roster. 

I don't get it.

There are so few bats in the lineup. 

[gmwannabe]

Your centerfielder's better defense playing despite hitting one hundred doesn't do you much good when McCusker's bat would give you a better chance to score some runs. Put Cody or Castro out there until Bader or Buxton come back but please don't make me watch Keirsey attempt to hit...yikes!

[bean5302]

Dehydration can significantly impact muscle strains, muscle pain, aggravate concussions and trigger migraines. It was a brutal scorcher today, and it's fine with me if they didn't want to stress test the heck out of Wallner's hammy or Buxton's noggin.

Seems like Wallner's bat is ready, and it sounds like Buxton is expected to join the team for the Seattle series. I think they should be getting both guys back.

It wasn't a terrible start for Lopez, and the bats put up 68 runs in 13 games over the streak (5.23 per game) which is at the top of the league with a bunch of journeyman AAAA or hobbled up guys in the lineup. That's obviously not sustainable.

Win some. Lose some.

[Fatbat]

Tough day at the ballpark 😤

[knothole61]

Such lethargy...maybe it's heat induced-eh? 

The Twins are sending out a very weak lineup these days. They could have used Bader both at bat and in the field in Tampa--I hope that his sore finger feels better by Friday.

[NYCTK]

2 minutes ago, knothole61 said:

Such lethargy...maybe it's heat induced-eh? 

The Twins are sending out a very weak lineup these days. They could have used Bader both at bat and in the field in Tampa--I hope that his sore finger feels better by Friday.

Well, thankfully for the Twins it only gets cooler after Memorial Day... 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

4 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Well, thankfully for the Twins it only gets cooler after Memorial Day... 

Well. . . no.  But I'm pretty sure this is the first really hot day they have experienced this season, so that's more than nothing.  That being said, they need more hitters hitting.  A pitcher gives up four runs and because the Twins can't score it seems like a pitching implosion even if its not. 

[tony&rodney]

Playing baseball in today's Tampa weather conditions allows players to be totally loose and ready to go. Having played numerous doubleheaders in Florida heat, it is incumbent on the guys to keep hydrated. It is much easier to perform at optimum physical ability in 90 degrees F than it is in weather that ranges from 30-60 degrees F.  Tampa was just better than the Twins today. The weather was not a factor. For those who find warm weather too difficult the weekend in Seattle should be in the mid 70s or with the roof closed if it rains (not in the forecast now). Stay safe.

[Tball]

I am sincerely hoping that Wallner is on a flight tomorrow morning.  This current lineup is full of singles hitters and questionable defenders.  At least Wallner has an arm for those of you who question his capabilities in the field.

[mnfireman]

2 hours ago, Fatbat said:

Tough day at the ballpark 😤

And other ballparks....Detroit and Cleveland both win, KC ahead and batting bottom 8.

[Mark G]

8 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Dehydration can significantly impact muscle strains, muscle pain, aggravate concussions and trigger migraines. It was a brutal scorcher today, and it's fine with me if they didn't want to stress test the heck out of Wallner's hammy or Buxton's noggin.

Seems like Wallner's bat is ready, and it sounds like Buxton is expected to join the team for the Seattle series. I think they should be getting both guys back.

It wasn't a terrible start for Lopez, and the bats put up 68 runs in 13 games over the streak (5.23 per game) which is at the top of the league with a bunch of journeyman AAAA or hobbled up guys in the lineup. That's obviously not sustainable.

Win some. Lose some.

Who was it that added "and some get rained out"? 😉

[Patzky]

12 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

3-3 in the last 2 series scoring 16 runs in those 6 games. Offense is back in its shell. 

Jeffers has been O-for all week and needs to drop in the order. Everyone needs to drop in the order lol .

[Patzky]

8 hours ago, mnfireman said:

And other ballparks....Detroit and Cleveland both win, KC ahead and batting bottom 8.

All the fans went home happy. 

[Doctor Wu]

What's up with Royce Lewis and his lack of productivity? This prolonged slump is very concerning. 

[JD-TWINS]

14 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

It was a loss ,a shut out loss , when the weather isn't to the players liking ,  they take the field but don't seem to want to play  ...

It wasn't much to work with with the lineup , wish we could find a normal leadoff hitter to spark something with hitting and stealing abilities ...

Batting lead off…..Luke Keaschall - July 20th.

🤞🤞

[LambchoP]

Twins are in desperate need of offense. Buxton and Wallner replacing Mccusker and Keirsey should help, a long with Bader starting again. Keirsey got a fair chance, but he can't hit. We have enough OF's with Buxton, Bader, Wallner, Larnach and Castro. Now they need to send Lewis down to St Paul to get his head straight and find his swing. Start Clemens at 2nd and Lee or Castro at 3rd. Keaschal can't come back soon enough. I really hope we pick up a bat or two at the trade deadline, just not sure where they'll look to upgrade. 1st/3rd base and catcher would be my guess.

[Fatbat]

5 hours ago, Patzky said:

Jeffers has been O-for all week and needs to drop in the order. Everyone needs to drop in the order lol .

Need to bat Jeffers and Lewis 10/11 🥸

[Guest]

14 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Playing baseball in today's Tampa weather conditions allows players to be totally loose and ready to go. Having played numerous doubleheaders in Florida heat, it is incumbent on the guys to keep hydrated. It is much easier to perform at optimum physical ability in 90 degrees F than it is in weather that ranges from 30-60 degrees F.  Tampa was just better than the Twins today. The weather was not a factor. For those who find warm weather too difficult the weekend in Seattle should be in the mid 70s or with the roof closed if it rains (not in the forecast now). Stay safe.

I absolutely hate domed baseball stadiums. Went to a Rangers game last year. OMG what a horrible ballpark. Baseball is meant to be played outdoors. Period.

The Twins are fortunate to be able to play in such a beautiful stadium. Wish I lived closer to enjoy it.

[h2oface]

21 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

What's up with Royce Lewis and his lack of productivity? This prolonged slump is very concerning. 

It's an illusion. I am certain he said he doesn't do slumps. It must not be a slump. That might be even more troubling.

It's hard as a fan to be an under .500 team since the 13 game streak. Seems we have wasted a hot Wallner. Seems like the muscles work the same whether you play in AAA or MLB. Same legs, same bases to run. Same swinging motion. No problem to play a day and sit a day and be available to PH. Bader sits and isn't even on the IL. I mean, it's not like he would be damaging himself or the team to get worked in on the better maintained MLB fields instead of minor league fields...... oh, wait.......