Saved from getting swept: Rays 7, Twins 5 (F/10)

The Rays and Twins face off one last time in the finale of this weekend’s three-game series. Drew Rasmussen takes the mound against Twins starter Joe Ryan.

The Twins struck early after Byron Buxton hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first, but Taylor Walls responded with a solo shot of his own in the top of the third. In the bottom of the third, Joe Boyle, who was called up from Triple-A Durham this morning, entered in relief of Rasmussen, who pitched two strong innings in an opener role.

Jose Caballero doubled to lead off the top of the fourth, and was driven home by Jonathan Aranda, who singled to left to make it 2-1 Rays. Boyle pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth, and followed that up with another perfect inning in the bottom of the fifth.

However in the bottom of the sixth, Trevor Larnach doubled and was driven home by Brooks Lee on a Jose Caballero error to tie this one up.

In the top of the eighth, Matt Thaiss and Yandy Diaz both singled to put two on for Jose Caballero, and he moved both runners into scoring position on a sacrifice fly. Junior Caminero plated pinch-runner Christopher Morel after hitting a little dribbler just in front of home plate. No play was able to be made, and all runners were safe, with Diaz moving up to third. Yandy scored shortly after on a Jonathan Aranda infield single, and the inning ended with the Rays up 4-2.

After five innings of work, the one unearned run would be the only one given by up Boyle, and he was relieved Mason Montgomery in the bottom of the eighth. Boyle struck out seven, allowing only one hit and one walk on 95 pitches.

The Twins tied this one back up quickly after Montgomery entered the game, as he had walked Willi Castro to put a runner on for Harrison Bader, who hit a two-run home run into the left field seats. The game-tying blast was the only damage done to Montgomery, as Pete Fairbanks was brought in to get the Rays into the ninth, and he did just that.

The offense was quiet in the top of the ninth, and Fairbanks stayed in to make sure this game would see at least one more inning, which he was able to do.

Ghost runner Danny Jansen started the 10th on second, and Yandy Diaz brought him home with a double, and Diaz was able to score after Jose Caballero dropped a bunt and forced a throwing error by the Twins’ Justin Topa. He was able to move up to third, and quickly found himself scoring after Junior Caminero hit a sacrifice fly, making it 7-4 Rays.

Eric Orze entered in the bottom of the 10th, and recorded two quick groundouts, allowing the Twins’ ghost runner to score, but emptying the bases to need just one final out. He walked Carlos Correa before getting that out, but was able to secure the save after getting Brooks Lee to ground out, ending this one to avoid the sweep against the Twins.

The Rays travel to Detroit to begin a three-game series in the Motor City, and Shane Baz will get the start tomorrow night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 pm.