Twins at Rays
The Minnesota Twins were humbled in the series opener and now have a chance to leave town with three straight victories when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays for the finale on Sunday afternoon. The American League Central-leading Twins rebounded after being routed 14-3 on Thursday night by rallying for a pair of solid wins after recording 13 hits in a 6-2 triumph on Saturday.
Marwin Gonzalez and Byron Buxton belted solo homers in the latest victory for Minnesota, which has scored at least three runs in 25 straight contests to set a single-season club record and move within five of the overall club mark set between 2003-04. Red-hot Jake Odorizzi, who spent five seasons with Tampa Bay before coming to the Twins, goes after his eighth straight victory when he takes the mound Sunday and left-hander Ryan Yarbrough will get his second start of the season for the Rays. Tampa Bay was without outfielders Tommy Pham (right leg cramps), along with Avisail Garcia (hamstring, general soreness), in Saturday’s game and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position while leaving 10 men on base for its second loss in the last eight contests. All-Star Game candidate Austin Meadows contributed two more hits in the latest loss for the Rays, improving to 18-for-40 with three homers and 11 RBIs in his last nine contests.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (7-2, 2.16 ERA) vs. Rays LH Ryan Yarbrough (4-1, 5.53)
Odorizzi is unbeaten in his last eight trips to the mound, allowing zero runs in five of the last six, including last Sunday when he blanked the Chicago White Sox on one hit over 5 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old, who has 61 strikeouts and 20 walks this year, has permitted a total of six runs on 34 hits over 47 innings across the past eight starts. Odorizzi gave up six runs (five earned) over 4 1/3 innings in his only start against his former team last season.
Yarbrough was outstanding in only other start this season, limiting Cleveland to two runs on four hits over 7 1/3 innings on May 23 with four strikeouts. The 27-year-old Old Dominion product came out of the bullpen in his second appearance since being recalled, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win against Toronto on Tuesday. Jonathan Schoop is 4-for-5 with two homers against Yarbrough, who gave up four runs over 5 1/3 innings versus Minnesota last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay recalled 1B Nate Lowe, who went 1-for-3 with a walk Saturday, while LHP Adam Kolarek was optioned to Triple-A Durham.
2. Minnesota C Jason Castro had three hits Saturday and is 8-for-18 during a five-game hitting streak.
3. Rays INF David Robertson has hit safely in seven straight contests and CF Kevin Kiermaier boasts a six-game run.