Rays tie franchise record with 19 runs in blowout win over Twins
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Cash didn't want to jinx the roll the Tampa Bay hitters were on, so he just stayed at his spot in the dugout and didn't say a word.
The Rays' manager didn't need to say anything. The hitters had everything under control.
Jake Bauers homered for the second straight game and drove in four runs, Carlos Gomez homered and had two RBIs, and Tampa Bay scored 15 times in the final three innings to rally past the Minnesota Twins 19-6 on Saturday.
"I just watched, man," Cash said. "I don't talk to hitters. I don't look at hitters. I don't say anything. I let (hitting coach Chad Mottola) handle that."
C.J. Cron hit a two-run homer and Jesus Sucre, who entered in the sixth for injured catcher Wilson Ramos, drove in two runs for the Rays. They posted season-highs in runs and tied a season-high with 20 hits. Tampa Bay entered the game 2-34 this season when trailing after six innings.
"Part fun, part exhausting," said the rookie Bauers, who is hitting .398 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in his past seven games. "I don't think anyone in here wanted to lose three straight, let alone the series if we do drop that game."
Jamie Schultz (1-0) earned his first major league win with 2 2/3 hitless innings in relief as the Rays overcame a short start by Chris Archer.
Zach Duke (3-3) gave up three runs and managed to retire just two batters in relief of Minnesota starter Jose Berrios. Eddie Rosario had three hits and two RBIs, but the Twins fell for the second time in nine games on their current homestand.
Six of Tampa Bay's runs scored with two outs.
"We tried to stay close the best we could," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. "We just couldn't get that last pitch to get off the field and give us a chance to keep it within striking distance. And then obviously the old 5-5-5 area code at the end was a little bit too much."
Berrios, who is headed to his first All-Star game next week, gave up six runs for the second time in four starts.
"It was one of those days I felt strong," Berrios said. "I'm healthy. I'm feeling good out there the first few innings, but that's kind of how it went today."
Matt Duffy, Mallex Smith and Adeiny Hechavarria all had three hits for the Rays. Duffy later left the game after twisting his ankle on a swing in the eighth, but Cash said he was removed because of the score and is expected to be in the lineup on Sunday.
ARCHER GETTING CLOSER
Archer threw 93 pitches in his second start off the disabled list after missing a month with a left abdominal strain. He gave up two runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts.
"I thought Arch was pretty good," Cash said. "The pitch count got high, but stuff appeared to be back in order with what we've typically seen with the fastball and the slider."
RAMOS INJURED
Ramos, named the starting catcher for the American League in next week's All-Star game, left the game in the sixth inning with left hamstring tightness. He said he won't play in the All-Star game and is "probably" going to need a stint on the disabled list. He was injured running to first on a groundout.
"I was very excited to participate in that game," Ramos said. "Now, it's very sad because I will be out of the lineup. I worked really hard to make that team."
MINNESOTA MOVE
The Twins placed right-handed pitcher Aaron Slegers on the disabled list after the game with right shoulder inflammation. The move is retroactive to July 11. Slegers (1-1, 5.68), had been temporarily moved to the bullpen after his last start when he gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: INF Christian Arroyo (10-day disabled list, left oblique strain) was expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday for his rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham. Arroyo had left Thursday's game with discomfort in his left hand.
Twins: OF Byron Buxton was put on the Triple-A disabled list with a strained left wrist after an MRI showed inflammation in the wrist. ... RHP Ervin Santana is scheduled to start Sunday for Triple-A Rochester as he works his way back from finger surgery. ... Molitor said 1B Logan Morrison might not need a rehab assignment as he recovers from a left hip impingement. Molitor said RHP Addison Reed could need a rehab assignment and that the reliever might need more than the 10 days for his right triceps tightness.
UP NEXT
Both teams waited until after Saturday's game before designating their starter for Sunday afternoon's series finale. Tampa Bay will turn to Ryne Stanek (1-2, 1.93 ERA), who has served as the team's "opener" when it plans a bullpen day. With Slegers going on the disabled list, the Twins will recall right-hander Fernando Romero from Triple-A Rochester to start Sunday. Romero (3-3, 4.38) made 10 starters earlier this season for Minnesota. He was 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in three Triple-A starts since being optioned following his last start on June 22.
