The Twins dropped their series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays, falling 5-2 in 18 innings on Thursday
After 15 innings of scoreless baseball, the Rays put up three runs in the top of the 18th to secure the win. It’s the second time the Twins have played at least a 17-inning game this season, as they went the same distance against the Boston Red Sox on June 18.
At the time, that was the longest game at Target Field’s history by innings but Thursday’s game set a new record at 5 hours and 42 minutes.
After a 55-minute rain delay to begin the afternoon, first pitch was at 1:05 p.m. and Minnesota jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Tampa tied things back up in the next half.
Despite giving up the early lead, starting pitcher Martin Perez was superb and settled in nicely, retiring 16-straight batters to finish his outing.
Rocco Baldelli turned to his bullpen in eighth inning, after Perez, allowed just two runs on three hits, while striking out six and walking just one batter through 102 pitches.
102 pitches, 67 strikes. A solid afternoon of work for @MartinPerez33D. đź’Ş#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/WYaThYxNNa
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 27, 2019
Although the unit has been shaky this season, you have to give credit to the Twins’ bullpen, as they pitched 11 innings and allowed just five hits.
Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t catch a break, bouncing into double plays in the 14th and 17th innings.
With the loss, the Twins fall to 52-28 on the season and will hit the road for a six-game road trip starting in Chicago on Friday.
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