Minnesota Twins Game Grades: Nolasco goes 6 strong innings in loss
The Minnesota Twins lose in spite of Ricky Nolasco’s six scoreless innings
The Minnesota Twins are now 11-10 on the spring with a 5-2 loss to the Rays this afternoon.
Ricky Nolasco started for the Twins against a very shorthanded Rays roster. The Rays’ regulars hadn’t arrived back from Cuba until 5 am and so it was almost entirely minor leaguers who suited up for Tampa.
Out of the Rays starting nine, only one player has had a major league at bat. Even though Nolasco’s quality of competition was low today, he did look quite sharp.
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Nolasco went six innings, allowed no runs, 3 hits, 2 walks and struck out 7.
The Twins got on the board first with a run in the third inning. Danny Santana had a sac fly which scored Eduardo Nunez. In the sixth, Danny Santana singled. He stole second, the throw went into center, Santana bolted to third, the center fielder basically threw it into left field somehow and Danny trotted home for the free run.
The Twins displayed some poor defense of their own in the 7th. Nunez botched a routine play with a poor throw to first that allowed a run to score. Nunez had 2 errors on the day. Also in the 7th, Glen Perkins allowed 2 earned on 2 hits and a walk. Ryan O’Rourke was called on for the last out of the frame.
Kevin Jepsen pitched a scoreless 8th with two 2 K. Trevor May struck out the side in the 9th but also allowed 2 earned runs on 3 hits in between.
The Rays’ Erasmo Ramirez shut the Twins down with 6 inning of scoreless “relief” to prevent any chance of a comeback.
Final. 5. 21. 2. 2
OFFENSE . D. 5 hits, 0 walks, 8 strikeouts, 0 home runs and 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position. The Twins didn’t do much of note offensively. Danny Santana essentially produced both Twins runs and gets the special mention for his RBI, single and stolen base. . . Danny Santana
Team totals: 9 hits allowed, 3 walks, no home runs and 12 strikeouts. Aside from two poor relief outings from May and Perkins, the Twins pitching was excellent. Unfortunately, those two outings were the difference. Nolasco gets the special mention for his 6 scoreless innings . . Ricky Nolasco. PITCHING . B
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The Twins will face the Miami Marlins tomorrow afternoon at Roger Dean Stadium. First pitch is at 12:05 CST. Tommy Milone will get the start the Twins. The game will not be broadcast.