Rays 7, Twins 6: Rays win it in extras after a brutal 9th inning

Phew.

It took ten innings to get the job done, but the Rays were triumphant this afternoon, walking away with the win.

Let’s see how they got there.

It was Zack Littell up against Simeon Woods Richardson on the mound, and maybe it’s just because I’ve been watching Bridgerton but Simeon Woods Richardson would make a great duke name.

The Rays went 1-2-3 to start the first. In the home half Royce Lewis got a two-out walk, but no runs scored. Unfortunately for the Twins Mex Kepler got hurt sliding into first base (I’m getting Kevin Kiermaier flashbacks) and was replaced defensively by old friend Manuel Margot.

Josh Lowe started off the second with a double then Randy Arozarena hit a double of his own to bring Lowe home, putting the Rays on the board first. Three outs quickly followed.

In the home half, Carlos Santana got a one-out single, then a Kyle Farmer double brought him home and tied the game 1-1 at the end of two.

Alex Jackson started the third hot with a double, and advanced to third on a Yandy Diaz flyball. A sac fly from Brandon Lowe then scored Jackson to put the Rays back in the lead. In the bottom half a Royce Lewis solo homer tied the game back up once more.

In the fourth, Randy Arozarena got a one-out walk, then stole second, no runs scored. In the Twins half, Carlos Santana doubled, but was likewise left stranded.

Yandy Diaz got a two-out double in the top of the fifth, but was unable to score. For the Twins, Austin Martin got a leadoff walk, but was then eliminated on a double play. Jose Miranda singled, but was not able to score. That was also the end of the game for Littell.

Isaac Paredes drew a leadoff walk to start the sixth. Unfortunately, three outs followed that walk. Shawn Armstrong came in for the Rays in relief, and got the Twins 1-2-3.

Cole Sands would be the first reliever out of the pen for the Twins in the seventh, and gave up a walk to Jose Caballero, who then stole second. The effort, while nice, ended up wasted. In the bottom half the Twins went 1-2-3 again.

Top of the eighth saw Steven Okert come in from the pen, and give up a one-out single to Isaac Paredes, who was replaced by Richie Palacios as a pinch runner. Amed Rosario came in to pinch his for Josh Lowe. Palacios stole second. Rosario then doubled to score Palacios, so I’d say that double substitution went pretty well. Okert was out and Jay Jackson came in next. Rosario stole third, but the Rays would have to settle for the one run. In the bottom half, Garrett Cleavinger came in for the Rays and Willi Castro started off with a single, then Royce Lewis got a one-out walk. Kevin Kelly then replaced Cleavinger after facing the minimum number of batters. Kelly got the next two outs.

Jose Siri knocked a solo home run to start the ninth inning. Alex Jackson got a one-out walk, and then Yandy Diaz homered to score two. Jay Jackson was out, replaced by Caleb Thielbar, who gave up a double to Brandon Lowe, but no additional runs.

Chris Devinksi came in for the Rays and all he had to do was keep the score stable, but oh boy, spoiler alert, that did not happen. He gave up a solo home run to Carlos Santana, then a double to Byron Buxton, before walking Kyle Farmer. Devinksi was quickly replaced by Pete Fairbanks, who got two outs, before giving up a home run to Jose Miranda to tie the game 6-6. Womp womp.

Griffin Jax came in to pitch the top of the tenth, and with one out, Jonny DeLuca singled to score the ghost runner Taylor Walls, putting the Rays up 7-6. Jose Siri also singled, but the Rays settled for the one run, hoping it was enough. And the Twins managed only to get a Ryan Jeffers single after their ghost runner was eliminated in a double play.

Final: Rays 7, Twins 6