Snell shelled in game against Minnesota./CARMEN MANDATO
Friday, 4 a.m.
No, it wasn't about the rain in Minnesota. It was about ending the reign of Blake Snell in Minnesota.
Snell, who has been sharp enough this season that analysts and fans have expressed ire that he was left off the American League All-Star team, had his roughest outing of the season against Minnesota in a 5-1 loss.
Snell lasted only three innings and gave up three earned runs and five hits on 75 pitches. Snell had held teams to two runs or less in 16 starts. Snell had a personal four game winning streak and had won eight of his last nine decisions.
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Bauers had three hits for the Rays./JEFFREY S KING
"He just could never get his fastball going," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "You have to give credit to the Twins' lineup. They had a good approach. They'd didn’t swing. they didn’t expand. They put him in some challenging counts.
"For whatever reason, he wasn’t able to make the pitches we’ve seen him make so many times this year. His pitch count got up. I think 75 pitches threw three innings, that’s enough. It was one of those days he didn't have it."
Ramos had two hits for the Rays./STEVEN MUNCIE
The game featured a two-hour rain delay, but Cash said Snell didn't warm up beforehand.
"My fastball command was poor," Snell said. "They were better than me today. I have to do a better job with the fastball in the zone. It's frustrating but you have to continue to improve and get better. I was driving toward first base. I was terrible today."
Even with Snell struggling, and with Minnesota pitcher Kyle Gibson allowing just five hits over eight innings, the Rays mounted a threat in the ninth. They loaded the bases with one out, but Joey Wendle's hard hit shot up the middle was fielded by Fernando Rodney (an ex-Ray), who got a force out at the plate. Rodney then struck out Matt Duffy to end the game.
Jake Bauers had three hits for the Rays and Wilson Ramos had two. However, the Rays had just seven as a team.
The Rays and Twins play again today at 8:10 p.m. Nate Eovaldi pitches against former Ray hurler Jake Odorizzi.
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