Rays stumble in later innings, drop opener to Twins
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Rays left-handed reliever Xavier Cedeno has been in the wrong place at the wrong time twice this week.
Cedeno was throwing in the bullpen but not ready to go in the seventh inning when left-handed hitter Eddie Rosario put Minnesota ahead with a pinch-hit two-run homer, and the Twins beat the Tampa Bay 6-2 on Friday night.
Cedeno was preparing to face lefty Joe Mauer two hitters down the line when Rosario hit for Byron Buxton. Cedeno never got in the game after that.
"I had just gotten up," he said. "Not enough time."
On Tuesday, Cedeno was left in against right-handed hitting Salvador Perez and gave up a two-run homer in a 3-2 loss to the Royals -- manager Kevin Cash said he would "lose a little sleep" over his decision to stick with Cedeno, who specializes in pitching to left-handed hitters.
Rosario's homer came off Erasmo Ramirez (7-9), who had walked Eduardo Escobar. Miguel Sano homered in the eighth and Mauer drove in the final two runs with a double in the ninth for the Twins, who have won seven of nine.
Rosario has homered in both of his at-bats as a pinch hitter this season. He was looking offspeed and got it against Ramirez.
"When the pitching coach is talking to the pitcher, I think he's telling him not to throw me a fastball on the first pitch," said Rosario, who got a changeup and drove it over the right-field wall for his seventh homer.
"I was just hoping for a hit to maybe get even, and he gave me more than I could ask for," Twins manager Paul Molitor said.
Brad Miller's solo homer off starter Ervin Santana gave the Rays a 2-1 lead in the sixth. It was the fifth homer in seven games for Miller and his 20th of the season.
Santana (5-9) struck out eight in 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits.
Mauer's two hits raised his average to .402 in 31 games career at Tropicana Field.
Brian Dozier drove in the game's first run with a third-inning triple. Dozier stretched his hitting streak to 14 games, the longest active streak among AL players.
The loss ended the Rays' streak of 10 games in which they had given up no more than three runs.
"We didn't capitalize on some opportunities," Cash said. "We let the game get away, left too many pitches up in the zone that those guys can handle and the ball left the ballpark."
Rays starter Blake Snell gave up one run on four hits while striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings.
DAMAGED GOODS?
Lucius Fox, a shortstop prospect acquired from the San Francisco Giants in a trade for left-hander Matt Moore on Monday, has a bruised left foot, the Rays confirmed. The Tampa Bay Times reported the Rays were not informed of Fox's injury by the Giants, and Tampa Bay may seek additional compensation from San Francisco as a result. The Times said Fox's injury could cost him the rest of the minor league season.
NO MORE MOCKS
The Twins, who started the season 11-34, would move out of the AL basement with a sweep of the weekend series.
"We were being somewhat mocked about (being) on pace to set the all-time record for losses, and I understand why people enjoy doing those things when the season goes up in smoke early," Molitor said.
SWITCHING SPOTS
Miller had his first workout at first base with coach Tom Foley after moving from shortstop due to Tampa Bay's acquisition Monday of Matt Duffy from San Francisco. Teammates Chris Archer and Evan Longoria took flips covering first after grounders hit to Miller. The switch could come next week when Duffy is expected back from a left Achilles tendon strain.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: 3B Trevor Plouffe played an entire game at third base Friday night in his fourth rehab game at Triple-A Rochester. He could be activated as early as Monday.
Rays: OF Desmond Jennings was out of the lineup due to knee soreness. ... Cash said reports were very impressive on RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery), who allowed one earned run over three innings in his second start Thursday night for Class A Charlotte after shutting down his rehab assignment 2 1/2 weeks ago because of fatigue.
UP NEXT
Twins: RHP Jose Berrios will make his second start since being recalled from Rochester. He won Monday at Cleveland.
Rays: Chris Archer (5-15) leads the majors in losses and can regain the AL lead in strikeouts with four in Saturday night's game.
