Rays' 15th-inning blasts sink Twins
The Sports Xchange
May 28, 2017
MINNEAPOLIS -- Evan Longoria and Logan Morrison hit back-to-back homers to open the 15th inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays outlasted the Minnesota Twins 8-6 on Sunday in the longest game in Target Field history.
Longoria's seventh homer of the season came off the second pitch of the inning from Hector Santiago (4-4), who is scheduled to be the Wednesday starter for Minnesota. Morrison followed with a long homer to deep right field on the next pitch as Tampa Bay won for the second time in five extra-inning games this season.
The game equaled the Target Field record of 15 innings and set a record for time of game for the eight-season-old stadium at 6 hours, 26 minutes.
Alex Colome (1-2) earned the win, despite giving up the tying run in the 14th inning. Colome pitched two innings and allowed two hits. The run he surrendered was unearned after Max Kepler reached on an error by center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.
Erasmo Ramirez earned his first save of the season with a scoreless inning. Ramirez was scheduled to start Monday in Texas.
The Rays won their fourth consecutive road series and are 8-3 in their past 11 road games after starting the season 3-10 away from Tropicana Field.
Santiago pitched the 15th as the Twins' ninth pitcher of the game.
Corey Dickerson's fourth hit of the game gave Tampa Bay the lead in the 14th before pinch hitter Robbie Grossman replied with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame for Minnesota. However, the Twins left the bases loaded in the inning. They stranded 17 baserunners in the game and were 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
Tampa Bay left 18 runners on base and finished 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Joe Mauer had four hits and three walks for Minnesota. Mauer tied the game with a solo homer in the seventh, and Brian Dozier's RBI single in the eighth gave Minnesota its first lead of the game. Jorge Polanco's sacrifice fly later in the eighth put the Twins up 5-3.
The Rays scored two runs in the top of the ninth off Twins closer Brandon Kintzler.
Dickerson singled and scored on Longoria's RBI double. Longoria then scored on Souza's single to right field. Right fielder Max Kepler's throw home met Longoria at the plate, but Jason Castro's tag was late as the catcher had to grab the throw and come across to tag Longoria.
A video review upheld the call.
Ryan Pressly relieved closer Brandon Kintzler and struck out Tim Beckham to leave the bases loaded.
It was Kintzler's second blown save in 14 chances this season.
NOTES: Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano was out of the starting lineup for the second straight day as manager Paul Molitor tries to give the struggling slugger a break. Sano entered as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded in the 11th inning and struck out for the ninth straight at-bat. He is 1-for-15 in his past five games. ... Tampa Bay will have three players on the disabled list take live batting practice in Port Charlotte, Fla., on Monday. C Wilson Ramos (ACL surgery), SS Matt Duffy (Achilles surgery) and 2B Brad Miller (left abdominal strain) will hit. The Tampa Bay Times reported that RHP Brad Boxberger (right flexor strain) would throw the batting practice. Ramos, Duffy and Boxberger have been out all season with their injuries. ... The Rays are now 21-8 all-time at Minnesota's Target Field, their best record at any American League park. ... Tampa Bay continues its nine-game road trip at Texas on Monday. The Twins host the Houston Astros in a matchup of first-place teams starting on Monday.
May 28, 2017
MINNEAPOLIS -- Evan Longoria and Logan Morrison hit back-to-back homers to open the 15th inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays outlasted the Minnesota Twins 8-6 on Sunday in the longest game in Target Field history.
Longoria's seventh homer of the season came off the second pitch of the inning from Hector Santiago (4-4), who is scheduled to be the Wednesday starter for Minnesota. Morrison followed with a long homer to deep right field on the next pitch as Tampa Bay won for the second time in five extra-inning games this season.
The game equaled the Target Field record of 15 innings and set a record for time of game for the eight-season-old stadium at 6 hours, 26 minutes.
Alex Colome (1-2) earned the win, despite giving up the tying run in the 14th inning. Colome pitched two innings and allowed two hits. The run he surrendered was unearned after Max Kepler reached on an error by center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.
Erasmo Ramirez earned his first save of the season with a scoreless inning. Ramirez was scheduled to start Monday in Texas.
The Rays won their fourth consecutive road series and are 8-3 in their past 11 road games after starting the season 3-10 away from Tropicana Field.
Santiago pitched the 15th as the Twins' ninth pitcher of the game.
Corey Dickerson's fourth hit of the game gave Tampa Bay the lead in the 14th before pinch hitter Robbie Grossman replied with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame for Minnesota. However, the Twins left the bases loaded in the inning. They stranded 17 baserunners in the game and were 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
Tampa Bay left 18 runners on base and finished 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Joe Mauer had four hits and three walks for Minnesota. Mauer tied the game with a solo homer in the seventh, and Brian Dozier's RBI single in the eighth gave Minnesota its first lead of the game. Jorge Polanco's sacrifice fly later in the eighth put the Twins up 5-3.
The Rays scored two runs in the top of the ninth off Twins closer Brandon Kintzler.
Dickerson singled and scored on Longoria's RBI double. Longoria then scored on Souza's single to right field. Right fielder Max Kepler's throw home met Longoria at the plate, but Jason Castro's tag was late as the catcher had to grab the throw and come across to tag Longoria.
A video review upheld the call.
Ryan Pressly relieved closer Brandon Kintzler and struck out Tim Beckham to leave the bases loaded.
It was Kintzler's second blown save in 14 chances this season.
NOTES: Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano was out of the starting lineup for the second straight day as manager Paul Molitor tries to give the struggling slugger a break. Sano entered as a pinch hitter with the bases loaded in the 11th inning and struck out for the ninth straight at-bat. He is 1-for-15 in his past five games. ... Tampa Bay will have three players on the disabled list take live batting practice in Port Charlotte, Fla., on Monday. C Wilson Ramos (ACL surgery), SS Matt Duffy (Achilles surgery) and 2B Brad Miller (left abdominal strain) will hit. The Tampa Bay Times reported that RHP Brad Boxberger (right flexor strain) would throw the batting practice. Ramos, Duffy and Boxberger have been out all season with their injuries. ... The Rays are now 21-8 all-time at Minnesota's Target Field, their best record at any American League park. ... Tampa Bay continues its nine-game road trip at Texas on Monday. The Twins host the Houston Astros in a matchup of first-place teams starting on Monday.
