Normally when the Tampa Bay Rays collect 13 hits, score in three different innings, and put a crooked number the board, you expect to see a tally in the win column. Yet in spite of the fact that they were able to battle back from a pair of three-run deficits against the Twins, the pitching staff let the team down in an 11-7 loss. Starter Nathan Karns and long reliever Matt Andriese combined for 10 runs on nine hits and five walks, and the loss in the series opener found Tampa Bay back under .500…once again.
After falling behind in the first inning, thanks to Miguel Sano’s three-run home run, Tampa Bay charged back with two runs in the second. Asdrubal Cabrera followed Logan Forsythe’s leadoff single to center with an RBI triple (also to center). James Loney responded with an RBI base hit of his own, allowing the Rays to knot the game at two apiece.
As it stands, Nathan Karns has allowed 24-of-57 runs and 5-of-18 homers this year in the first inning.
Karns was shaky, and he walked Joe Mauer and Sano with none out in the third. And while he was able to coax a liner to third out of Trevor Plouffe, and fan Eddie Rosario (swinging), the righty wild pitched both runners into scoring position before allowing the veteran outfielder Torii Hunter to do what productive veterans do ― drive in a pair of runs on a base hit to center.
Down 5-2, the Rays were able to make the game interesting in the third. John Jaso hit a two-out double to center before Cabrera worked a two-out walk. James Loney came up big with a two-RBI double, and Kevin Kiermaier singled up the middle to tie the game and knock Twins hurler Ervin Santana out of the game.
Karns also departed early, as manager Kevin Cash called upon the services of RHP Matt Andriese. The righty started his shaky outing off well, striking out Eduardo Escobar swinging. But Andriese allowed a one-out walk to Byron Buxton, and Brian Dozier followed with a two-run homer to left-center ― his 26th of the season ― for a two-run advantage. It was the second of three homers for Minnesota on the night, allowing the Twins to take the lead for good.
Nevertheless, Tampa Bay battled back to score again in the fourth after Grady Sizemore walked, Daniel Nava was hit by a pitch, and John Jaso followed Evan Longoria’s groundout with an RBI single to center, making it a one-run game. Twins skipper Paul Molitor called upon Neal Cotts, who got Logan Forsythe to line to center, and Adrubal Cabrera to strike out. The strikeout came just after Cabrera missed a potential extra-base hit, pulling a ball foul down the left field line.
As if the seesaw game wasn’t nerve racking enough, Minnesota came right back ― scoring three two-out runs in the fifth inning on a two-run double by Escobar, and an RBI ground rule double by Buxton that was out of the reach of a diving Sizemore. Casali called for the 3-2 pitch to Escobar to be off the plate, yet Andriese yanked it right into his swing path.
Tampa Bay answered with a run in the fifth on a two-out homer to left by Curt Casali ― home run number 10 of the season for the Rays’ catcher. He’s the first Rays catcher to reach double digits in homers since Kelly Shoppach in 2011.
This is @CurtCasali hitting his 9th HR since the All-Star break—1st among AL catchers. WATCH: http://t.co/sKIJuiwQNS pic.twitter.com/yzY0Cs2T9b
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 26, 2015
Yet all that glitters isn’t gold, and Casali strained his left hamstring rounding first. Following the game, Cash said Casali will receive an MRI Wednesday morning and be reevaluated from there. The potential for a stint on the disabled list is all too real.
The Rays catcher spoke about the injury following the game:
It was weird. I was really weird. It’s never happened to me. I’ve never seen it. It just stinks right now. On top of the loss, it’s not a good day. As soon as I hit the bag it didn’t feel very good rounding the bases. I was trying to take it as slow as I could. I knew I had to get around the bases somehow. It was just unfortunate timing.
Casali wasn’t the only hobbled Ray; OF Desmond Jennings hurt is left knee sliding into second in Oakland, yet it swelled up Tuesday. He isn’t expected to play on Wednesday, when he too will be reevaluated.
That was as close as the Rays would get as the Twins bullpen worked scoreless baseball over the final four frames. On the contrary, the Twins weren’t done scoring. Rosario homered off Xavier Cedeno in the seventh to cap Minnesota’s scoring. It was the first run allowed by Cedeno in 16 appearances.
Don’t blame the offense, for Tuesday night’s loss, after all they collected 13 hits, including three from Loney, who drove in three runs. Kiermaier also reached base on three hits. No, my friends, let’s call the pitching staff’s participation in this loss what it was: a dumpster fire of epic proportions.
The New What Next
Chris Archer (11-9, 2.77) will start Wednesday’s game for Tampa Bay, opposite of right-hander Tyler Duffey. Archer pitched a Maddux against the Astros on Thursday, when he allowed just one hit and a walk while striking out 11 on just 98 pitches. He has made nine starts this year in which he allowed no earned runs. Duffey is set to make his fourth career start in the big leagues. The righty struggled in his season debut against Toronto, but has been solid since, posting a 1.32 ERA over his last two outings. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 8/26/15 Starting Lineup
Nava RF
Sizemore LF
Longoria 3B
Jaso DH
Forsythe 2B
Cabrera SS
Loney 1B
Kiermaier CF
Rivera C
Archer RHP
Noteworthiness
— As expected, the Rays have placed Curt Casali on the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring. The team corresponded by purchasing The contract of JP Arencibia from AAA Durham. To make room on The 40-man roster for Arencibia, Tampa Bay placed P Garvin on The 60-day DL with a torn lat muscle. JP hit .227 with 22 HR and 65 RBI in 384 at-bats this season for the Bulls.
Rays skipper Kevin Cash said Rene Rivera will get the bulk of playing time until Arencibia gets up to speed with the pitching staff.