MINNEAPOLIS -- It’s early in the season, but a couple of patterns have emerged from a week’s worth of games that the Rays hope won’t dog them all season.
One: Joe Boyle posting a strong outing without much to show for it.
Two: The team’s defense cracking too often at the most inconvenient times.
The Twins exploded for seven runs in the seventh inning on Friday, and the Rays committed three errors as Minnesota won its home opener, 10-4.
In his second start of the season, Boyle pitched into the sixth inning, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out nine. In his previous outing, he gave up two runs in the first inning, then followed with five scoreless frames in St. Louis. Even though the Rays lost both games, Boyle’s efforts are not lost on his manager.
“That’s two starts now back to back where he’s dealt with some adversity early on, whether it's by himself or a combination of him putting himself in that situation, or like today, maybe we didn't help him out as much as possible,” Kevin Cash said. “But couldn't be more impressed and proud of Joe.”
Boyle got a chance when RHP Ryan Pepiot began the season on the IL, and he’s making the most of the opportunity.
"Every start’s a challenge. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself to try to be perfect,” Boyle said. “I’m going to navigate around stuff. So, I feel like I'm doing a good job of that so far.”
On Friday, the Twins scored in just two innings, and both rallies were assisted by misplays in the Rays infield.
The Rays scored two in the first inning, and Junior Caminero notched his first extra-base hit of the season, a double. Nick Fortes continued his hot start, ripping a double to drive in two runs.
Ben Williamson’s RBI double made it 3-0 in the fourth before the Twins finally got to Boyle. Luke Keaschall led off with a single, stole second and scored on Josh Bell’s double. Ryan Jeffers singled and Trevor Larnach walked to load the bases.
Then came arguably the biggest play of the game. Royce Lewis hit a potential double-play grounder to shortstop that Carson Williams bobbled. A run scored, and the bases stayed loaded. Tristan Gray’s sacrifice fly tied the game at 3 before Boyle fanned Kody Clemens to end the uprising.
“It's pretty straightforward,” Williams said. “That play needs to be made. It gets us out of the inning, and it took a turn for the worst there.”
Boyle was much more forgiving of Williams’ error.
“It happens. I won’t hold it against anybody, because we’re all trying our best out there,” Boyle said. “Stuff happens. I just looked to pick him up after that, because I know that eventually he's going to pick me up.”
The Twins chased Boyle in the sixth when Larnach’s double off the facing of the deck in right field put runners on second and third with one out. Hunter Bigge walked Lewis to load the bases, but he retired Gray on a short flyout and struck out Clemens to keep it tied.
But everything unraveled in the seventh, when Kevin Kelly came on to pitch. Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch, and pinch-runner James Outman stole second. Then Luke Keaschall got on base on a chopper that Caminero tried unsuccessfully to backhand at third. The play was originally scored an error, but it was later changed to a hit.
Kelly struck out Matt Wallner for the first out, but Bell’s RBI single gave the Twins a 4-3 lead. Jeffers followed with another chopper. Caminero couldn’t come up with it, and Jeffers reached first to load the bases.
Larnach and Lewis both battled Kelly for walks before Gray delivered the final blow, a grand slam off Yoendrys Gómez to put the Twins on top 10-3.
Cash pointed to Buxton’s leadoff plate appearance -- hit by pitch on a 1-2 count -- as the catalyst for the rally.
“1-2 hit-by-pitch, not ideal. Guy steals second base. … Something we talked about all spring,” Cash said. “We’ve got to do a better job of that. And then we, you know, didn't make some plays behind him. … it's not going to happen overnight, but we’ve got to play better.”