Dozier's homer leads Twins past Rays
The Sports Xchange
May 27, 2017
MINNEAPOLIS -- Brian Dozier hit a tie-breaking, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to send the Minnesota Twins to a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
Dozier's seventh home run of the season was deep to the opposite field, hitting off the ribbon video board in front of the second deck in right field. Minnesota was 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position before Dozier's big blast off Tampa Bay reliever Tommy Hunter.
Rays reliever Danny Farquhar (2-2) had walked Chris Gimenez leading off the inning. Byron Buxton added an RBI single in the inning.
Taylor Rogers (2-1) pitched a perfect eighth inning for the Twins and got the win. Brandon Kintzler gave up a two-out, solo homer to Colby Rasmus but finished off his 13th save in 14 chances.
Rookie starter Adalbert Mejia was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to assume Minnesota's open spot in the rotation. The left-hander built off his best start and first win in the majors in his last outing -- a three-run, seven-inning performance in a doubleheader on May 21 against the Kansas City Royals.
Mejia surrendered two earned runs on six hits and two walks, but he threw 91 pitches in five innings while striking out six batters.
Tampa Bay starter Jake Odorizzi pitched 5 2/3 innings. He threw a season-high 118 pitches while giving up seven hits and four walks. He allowed two runs and struck out four batters.
Derek Norris' RBI single scored the opening run of the game when he plated Logan Morrison in the second inning. Minnesota answered back in their half of the frame with a sacrifice fly by Ehire Adrianza scoring Kennys Vargas.
Norris added a sacrifice fly in the fourth to score Kevin Kiermaier before Eddie Rosario tied the game again in the bottom half of the fourth with a long solo homer to right field, his fourth home run of the season.
NOTES: Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano was out of the starting lineup the day after striking out four times. Sano entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh and struck out with pinch-runner Byron Buxton on third base and no outs. He has struck out in eight straight at-bats. Buxton was also out of the starting lineup after striking out twice on Friday. He pinch ran in the seventh and stayed in the game in center field. ... Tampa Bay RHP Jake Odorizzi had his 21st no-decision since the start of last season. It's the highest total in the majors and three more than any other pitcher. ... Twins manager Paul Molitor said LHP Glen Perkins could face hitters during his final bullpen session in Minnesota on Tuesday. Perkins, who has been out since April 2016 with shoulder trouble, will go to Florida to continue his rehab work afterward. ... RHP Alex Cobb (4-4, 3.82 ERA) will start for Tampa Bay in Sunday's series finale. The Twins will have RHP Kyle Gibson (1-4, 8.62) on the mound.
May 27, 2017
MINNEAPOLIS -- Brian Dozier hit a tie-breaking, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to send the Minnesota Twins to a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
Dozier's seventh home run of the season was deep to the opposite field, hitting off the ribbon video board in front of the second deck in right field. Minnesota was 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position before Dozier's big blast off Tampa Bay reliever Tommy Hunter.
Rays reliever Danny Farquhar (2-2) had walked Chris Gimenez leading off the inning. Byron Buxton added an RBI single in the inning.
Taylor Rogers (2-1) pitched a perfect eighth inning for the Twins and got the win. Brandon Kintzler gave up a two-out, solo homer to Colby Rasmus but finished off his 13th save in 14 chances.
Rookie starter Adalbert Mejia was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to assume Minnesota's open spot in the rotation. The left-hander built off his best start and first win in the majors in his last outing -- a three-run, seven-inning performance in a doubleheader on May 21 against the Kansas City Royals.
Mejia surrendered two earned runs on six hits and two walks, but he threw 91 pitches in five innings while striking out six batters.
Tampa Bay starter Jake Odorizzi pitched 5 2/3 innings. He threw a season-high 118 pitches while giving up seven hits and four walks. He allowed two runs and struck out four batters.
Derek Norris' RBI single scored the opening run of the game when he plated Logan Morrison in the second inning. Minnesota answered back in their half of the frame with a sacrifice fly by Ehire Adrianza scoring Kennys Vargas.
Norris added a sacrifice fly in the fourth to score Kevin Kiermaier before Eddie Rosario tied the game again in the bottom half of the fourth with a long solo homer to right field, his fourth home run of the season.
NOTES: Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano was out of the starting lineup the day after striking out four times. Sano entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh and struck out with pinch-runner Byron Buxton on third base and no outs. He has struck out in eight straight at-bats. Buxton was also out of the starting lineup after striking out twice on Friday. He pinch ran in the seventh and stayed in the game in center field. ... Tampa Bay RHP Jake Odorizzi had his 21st no-decision since the start of last season. It's the highest total in the majors and three more than any other pitcher. ... Twins manager Paul Molitor said LHP Glen Perkins could face hitters during his final bullpen session in Minnesota on Tuesday. Perkins, who has been out since April 2016 with shoulder trouble, will go to Florida to continue his rehab work afterward. ... RHP Alex Cobb (4-4, 3.82 ERA) will start for Tampa Bay in Sunday's series finale. The Twins will have RHP Kyle Gibson (1-4, 8.62) on the mound.
