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Twins, Rays Seek Improved Offense in Series Finale
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash offered a short and simple description of his team’s latest contest against the Minnesota Twins. “It was an odd game,” Cash said.
Series Overview
The Rays will now attempt to prevent the Twins from being even. Tampa Sound will go for a series win when it plays the Twins in the conclusive round of a three-game set Thursday evening in Minneapolis. The Twins won the series opener 7-6 on Tuesday before the Rays quickly returned for a 3-2 triumph in 10 innings on Wednesday. The Rays were able to score the winning run after Royce Lewis, a Twins third baseman, made a throwing error.
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Reaction to Wednesday’s Game
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said it was not fair to pin the loss on Lewis. He cited a lack of timely hitting as a reason the game could be decided by a defensive miscue. Baldelli also said that he was fully focused on Thursday’s series finale instead of letting his thoughts linger on what could have gone differently on Wednesday. “In this game, sometimes you make an error,” Baldelli said. “We end up talking about it because it was a 2-2 game, so it ended up factoring in. But we’ll get back to work (Thursday) and move on from it.”
Twins’ Offensive Struggles
Baldelli hopes to see a better performance from the Twins at the plate. “We were right there in the game,” he said. “We didn’t put it together offensively the way we have a few other times this week. We had some good swings. We kind of scattered them around … but we just didn’t do enough offensively.”
Rays’ Need for More Runs
The Rays also are hoping for more offense before they leave Minnesota. “We’ve got to find ways to score some more runs,” Cash said. “There’s no doubt. Leaving (12) guys on — we’re a better offense than that. I’m happy that we won the game (on Wednesday), but the guys know we’ve got to score.”
Pitching Matchup
Zack Littell’s Recent Struggles
Rays right-hander Zack Littell (2-5, 4.24 Time) will get the beginning in the series finale as he attempts to return from his hardest trip of the time. On Friday, he pitched two innings and allowed eight hits and seven runs, six of which were earned, against the Atlanta Braves. Littell is 0-1 with a 3.00 Time in three profession games (one beginning) against the Twins. In those challenges, he struck out nine and gave no strolls in nine innings.
Simeon Woods Richardson’s Search for a Win
The Twins will counter with Simeon Woods Richardson (2-1, 3.29 ERA). The 23-year-old right-hander is looking for his first victory since May 28. In his most recent outing, Woods Richardson allowed four runs on four hits in four innings against the Oakland Athletics on Friday. He walked four and struck out four. This will be Woods Richardson’s first career appearance against the Rays.
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Key Players to Watch
Randy Arozarena’s Hitting Streak
Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena will look to stay hot at the plate after going 2-for-3 with a walk and a run on Wednesday. It has been a frustrating season for Arozarena, who is batting .185, but he has a five-game hitting streak.
Twins’ Offensive Support
Meanwhile, the Twins will need contributions from their lineup to support Woods Richardson. Players like Royce Lewis, who despite his error has been a key contributor, and other hitters need to step up to avoid a series loss.
Conclusion
In anticipation of the series finale, the Rays and Twins are both focused on enhancing their offensive performance. Littell is hoping to bounce back and Woods Richardson is aiming for his first win in more than a month, making the game a pivotal match for both teams looking to gain momentum as the season goes on.
