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