Minnesota Twins: Despite Ervin Santana’s best efforts, Twins defeat Tampa Bay
Last week I wrote the not-very-controversial piece that said Ricky Nolasco was the worst free agent signing in the history of the Minnesota Twins. Apparently, Ervin Santana didn’t like the piece and desperately wanted that title to himself. Santana did his best to gain the title, but despite him the Twins still defeated the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night by a score of 11-7.
Santana lasted only 2.2 innings and gave up five runs on eight hits. Miguel Sano gave Santana a three-run lead before Santana even hit the mound with a three-run blast to centerfield, but it didn’t take long before Santana coughed that lead up.
In the second inning, Santana gave up a pair of runs to cut the Twins lead to 3-2. In the top of the third, Torii Hunter hit a two-RBI single to give Santana another three-run lead, but Santana coughed again.
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In the bottom half of the inning, James Loney notched his second and third RBI of the game with a double. A batter later, Kevin Kiermaier hit an RBI single to tie it up. That was the end of the line for Santana and the game was handed over to a very well-worked bullpen.
The bullpen again took the challenge and succeeded. The bullpen gave up two more runs to the Rays, but the Twins would add six more to their side of the tally. Brian Dozier hit a two-run home run in the fourth, Eduardo Escobar knocked in the eventual winning runs with a two run double in the fifth with Byron Buxton following a batter later with an RBI ground rule double. The Twins capped their scoring with an Eddie Rosario solo shot in the seventh.
J.R. Graham, freshly acquired Neal Cotts, Casey Fien, Trevor May and Kevin Jepsen appeared out of the bullpen. May didn’t give up a hit, but walked two. Jepsen once again shut the door in the ninth, this time in a non-save situation. Graham technically gets the win and that’s the first in his major league career.
The Rays and Twins do it all over again on Wednesday with first pitch set for 6:10 central from Flordia.
Next: Byron Buxton will be okay!