The Minnesota Twins didn’t start their 10-game home stand after the All-Star Break the way they had hoped. They were beaten Friday night 6-2 by the Tampa Bay Rays.
It wasn’t the start Kyle Gibson (8-8) was hoping for either, he was roughed up in his first second half start, and was tagged with the loss.
#MNTwins lose 6-2 to #Rays. Kyle Gibson got roughed up for six earned runs on nine hits. Eduardo Escobar was only player with two hits.
— Andy Greder (@andygreder) July 19, 2014
The Rays started the damage with a three-run double from Evan Longoria in the third inning.
The Twins battled back in the bottom half of the inning. Trevor Plouffe hit a two-run home run to cut the Rays lead to 3-2.
But Ben Zobrist re-opened the game back up with a two-run homer in the fifth. It was Zobrist’s seventh home run of the season. Then the Rays pushed the lead to 6-2 in the seventh, when they added an additional run.
Alex Cobb (5-6) picked up his fifth win of the season, for Tampa Bay. Rays reliever Jake McGee shut down the Twins in the ninth, he struck out the side featuring his fastball which was hitting 97 mph on the Target Field radar gun.
Fireworks. Unfortunately, they came after the game. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/vDmXzNERzy
— Gregg Litman (@GRLitman) July 19, 2014
The Twins and Rays will play the second game of their series Saturday night.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:10, it will feature a good pitching matchup. Phil Hughes is on the mound for Minnesota against Tampa’s David Price.
