Logan Morrison, Kevin Kiermaier and Steven Souza Jr. led the offensive charge Friday night, while Chris Archer dominated Minnesota over six of his 7-2/3 innings of work, helping the Tampa Bay Rays win against the Twins, 5–2.
As they havedone all season, the Rays took an early lead in a fourth inning rally that started with Corey Dickerson’s leadoff single to center against starter Hector Santiago. Logan Morrison, two batters later, lined a two-run bullet to right field for a two-run advantage.
Yes this will do quite nicely. pic.twitter.com/SOdQPsORE1
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 27, 2017
Morrison now leads the team with 34 RBI, and has homered in his last four games at Target Field.
Unwilling to just sit on the two-run lead, Tampa Bay widened the gap in the sixth inning. Two batters after Morrison worked a one-out walk, chasing Santiago, Kevin Kiermaier lined a two-run homer to right off reliever Ryan Pressly, extending the lead to four runs.
Specifics on Kiermaier’s HR. #Rays pic.twitter.com/2hNrRmWM06
— WDAE (@620wdae) May 27, 2017
Minnesota, however, made a valiant effort to get on the board in the seventh against Archer, whose fastball command began to lapse. Joe Mauer singled hard to center to lead off the frame, although the Rays’ ace was able to bounce back and strikeout Miguel Sano. Archer uncorked a pair of of wild pitches, allowing Mauer to move second and third, before Max Kepler popped out to short for the second out of the frame. But just one out away from getting out of the jam unscathed, Kennys Vargas singled to shallow right-center for an RBI hit to bring the Twins within three.
The ball landed about 23 feet away from, and out of the reach of, a diving Souza.
.@SouzaJr… you bring joy to our lives. 😂 pic.twitter.com/J7bCoBPOnP
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 27, 2017
More funny stuff from #Rays @SouzaJr on diving catch attempt last night vs. #Twins pic.twitter.com/8GWYrdHU4v
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 27, 2017
Yet Souza had the final laugh in the top of the eighth when answered by lifting a bomb into the second deck of the left-field stands off Matt Belisle.
Archer — who struck out the side in the first, and only allowed an infield hit over the first six innings — was unable to get out of the bottom of the eighth. Call it the curse of the third and fourth times through the order.
Eddie Rosario doubled to left to start the inning. He struck out the next two batters before Brian Dozier singled through the shift to left-center, scoring Rosario to again bring the Twins within three. Cash pulled Archer after he walked Mauer.
That’s not to take anything from Archer, who otherwise was superb. The right-hander struck out 11 over 7-2/3 innings and allowed just a walk and five hits. It was his fourth double-digit strikeout game in his last five starts (his 22nd overall).
Archer credited the work of Derek Norris behind the plate:
First and foremost, Norris called a great game back there, Archer said. We talked about doing specific things prior to the game and it worked out really well. We played some great defense. Overall it was just a great day for the team.
When all was said and done, Archer’s slider was dynamic — coaxing whiff after whiff from the Twins’ batters.
His slider is his most devastating pitch in terms of swings and misses that you’ll see, Molitor said prior to the game. He can make it disappear both down and in to lefties and away from righties, and he’s not afraid to throw it behind in the count. He’s one of those guys it’s going to be tough to have a good at-bat against him every time.
Alex Colome entered in relief and got Sano to strikeout on four pitches to end the eighth. Colome later worked the ninth and earned his 13th save by working around one-out double.
The New What Next
The Rays look to tie their season high in wins on Saturday with ake Odorizzi (3-2, 3.14 ERA, 4.50 FIP) on the mound. He’ll start opposite of left-hander Adalberto Mejia (1–1, 4.96 ERA, 6.63 FIP).
Odorizzi collected his fourth quality start of the season Monday when he held the Angels to two runs over six innings of a no-decision. In two career starts at Target Field, Odorizzi is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA. This season, Mejia has relied primarily on a 94 mph four-seam fastball and a rather par for the course 84 mph slider. He’s also mixed in a 93 mph contact inducing sinker and an 85 mph changeup.
You can read more about the series in our preview.
Rays 5/27/17 Starting Lineup
Beckham SS
Robertson 2B
Longoria 3B
Morrison 1B
Souza RF
Kiermaier CF
Weeks DH
Norris C
Bourjos LF
Odorizzi RHP