Sporting Sota
Fansided

Longest game in Target Field history does not go Twins way

By Collin Kottke

May 28, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier (2) steals third base in the eleventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier (2) steals third base in the eleventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays needed a whole lot of innings to settle the series on Sunday afternoon. It didn’t end nicely for Twins fans.

It was a possible last chance for romance for Kyle Gibson as a starter for the Minnesota Twins. By the time the game ended at Target Field, well, Gibson’s start was a long ago memory for most as it was the longest game in Target Field history. The game clocked in at 6:26. The Twins went so long that Fox Sports North was forced to move the Minnesota Lynx to the FSN Plus channel.

And the Twins still lost after all of that.

Gibson lasted 5.1 innings for the Twins in his outing on Sunday while allowing three runs on five hits and four walks. He would be the first in a line of nine pitchers for the Twins in the series finale.

Alex Cobb started for the Rays and only lasted five innings allowing only one run on six hits and three walks. The Rays would get out of Target Field only using eight pitchers on Sunday afternoon.

More from Sporting Sota

To have a six-plus hour game, many things need to go a little haywire. A blown save for each team helped push the game along.

Brandon Kintzler blew his second save of the year for the Twins. The Twins had a 5-3 lead going into the ninth before Evan Longoria hit an RBI double and Steven Souza Jr. hit an RBI single to tie it up and send it to extra frames.

The Rays would not score again until the 14th inning when Corey Dickerson would hit an RBI single giving the Rays a one-run lead. It would then be Alex Colome’s turn to blow a save via a Robbie Grossman RBI single to tie it back up and send it to the 15th inning.

The Twins used so many pitchers in the game that they had to turn to starter Hector Santiago in the 15th. The relief outing for Santiago did not go well. Santiago gave up back-to-back home runs to Longoria and Logan Morrison to give the Rays the deciding 8-6 lead.

What’s next for the Twins?

The Twins now take on the Houston Astros at Target Field for three games. The two tango for a Memorial Day matinee with a 1:10 Central first pitch.

Next: Twins management has a big decision to make

Sporting Sota is your home for all things Minnesota sports! Keep it tuned for all things Twins, Wolves, Wild, Gophers and Vikings!

Home/Minnesota Twins