Rays Light Up Twins, Gibson

The Minnesota Twins welcomed the Tampa Bay Rays into town following the All Star Break.  Riding a two game winning streak, and winning five of their last six game, the Twins were looking to keep things rolling.  Unfortunately, Kyle Gibson didn’t have his best stuff and the Twins went down pretty routinely.

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After making it through the first two innings virtually unscathed, Gibson ran into trouble in the top of the third.  After a Ben Zobrist walk to load the bases for the Rays, Gibson gave up a double to Evan Longoria, plating Zobrist, Desmond Jennings, and Curt Casali.  With the Rays on top 3-0, Gibson and the Twins limped into the bottom of the third.

On a Trevor Plouffe home run, scoring Brian Dozier as well, the Twins answered back to make the score read 3-2 heading into the fourth inning.

Unfortunately, the Twins weren’t able to keep things close for too long.  In the top of the fifth inning, Zobrist was locked in on a 3-1 pitch and deposited it over the right field wall, driving in Kevin Kiermaier as well.  Heading into the latter part of the game, the Rays had advanced their lead to 5-2.

Scoring would once again go stagnant until Tampa Bay came up in the top of the seventh inning.  With Kiermaier and Zobrist on, Matt Joyce singled driving in Kiermaier to give the rays a 6-2 advantage, and some extra breathing room.

With the Twins unable to mount any semblance of a comeback, the Rays hung on for the win.  In a non save situation, Joe Maddon decided to go with Jake McGee in the bottom of the ninth to end the Twins night.

For Minnesota, no batter had a multi hit game, however, Plouffe drove in the only two runs of the night on his home run.  For full statistical information, check out the official box score.

The Twins are back in action again tomorrow night at home against the Rays, with the first pitch set for 6:10pm central time.  Tomorrow’s matchup features David Price for the Tampa Bay Rays; he will be opposed by the Twins Phil Hughes.