One bad inning was the difference as the Rays (51-40) beat the Kyle Gibson and the Twins, 4-1 Tuesday night at Tropicana Field.
Gibson allowed just four hits over six innings, but trouble came when he walked back-to-back hitters to start the fourth inning. After a flyout, Gibson threw a wild pitch, allowing runners to advance to second and third with one out. After striking out Evan Longoria he walked James Loney to load the bases.
Matt Joyce then ripped a two-run single and Kelly Johnson followed with a two-run double, giving the Rays a 4-0 lead.
The Twins (37-50) put up their only run of the night on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Doumit in the sixth. Otherwise, they were held silent by Chris Archer.
Archer, a 23-year-old right-hander, allowed just three hits over six innings.
Minnesota threatened in the ninth with Joe Mauer and Doumit hitting singles to start the inning. Rays closer Fernando Rodney then struck out Justin Morneau, Trevor Plouffe and Oswaldo Arcia in succession to end the game.
Gibson (1-2) watched his earned-run averaged climb to 7.27 through three MLB starts, but outside of a rough fourth inning he was pretty good.
He mowed down the first nine hitters he faced, and faced just one over the minimum in the fifth and sixth innings.
The Twins have lost nine of 10 games and have fallen 13 games under .500 for the first time this season.
