MINNEAPOLIS: This was a tough one for the Tampa Bay Rays to lose.
With reigning Cy Young Award winner David Price on the mound facing a Minnesota team hadn’t beaten them since last year, the Rays blew a three-run lead and wasted a chance to overtake Texas for the AL wild-card lead.
Not exactly what the Rays wanted heading into a four-game series with the Rangers that opens today.
“We’ve had way too many missteps already this year. That’s what’s got us in this position,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said after watching Joel Peralta allow eighth-inning homers to Ryan Doumit and Josmil Pinto in the 6-4 loss. “We have played well enough to have a much better record. We haven’t closed the deal.” Tampa Bay appeared on its way to a season sweep of the Twins after Wil Myers and Sean Rodriguez homered to build a 3-0 lead.
With his team up 4-2 and two outs in the eighth, Peralta threw a first-pitch strike to Doumit. Then Trevor Plouffe singled, Josh Willingham walked and Pinto followed by sending an 0-1 pitch into the Rays bullpen in center field.
By the time the rookie came out of the dugout for a curtain call following his second career homer and All-Star closer Glen Perkins came in from the bullpen, the cheering crowd had completely forgotten about how futile Price had made the Twins lineup look earlier. “This one hurts the most,” Peralta said. “We really need these games. We need every game.” AP
