Harrison Bader's 8th-inning HR wasn't enough as the Twins fell 7-5 to the Rays in 10 innings on July 6. Recap Pablo López's start and the extra-inning loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a game of thrilling highs and a gut-punching low. For a moment, Harrison Bader was the hero Target Field needed, launching a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth. But the magic ran out in extras, as the Minnesota Twins ultimately fell 7-5 to the Tampa Bay Rays in a grueling 10-inning battle on Sunday afternoon.
Harrison Bader: 1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI. His two-run shot in the eighth tied the game at 4-4.
The afternoon started with a bang as Byron Buxton sent a solo shot into the seats in the first inning. But the Rays, as they so often do, clawed back with a homer of their own and an RBI single off starter Pablo López. Despite a solid outing from López—who went six strong innings, allowing just one earned run with seven strikeouts—the game remained tight. After the Twins tied it on an error in the sixth, the Rays jumped ahead 4-2 in the eighth, setting the stage for Bader's dramatic game-tying blast. The tenth inning, however, was all Tampa Bay. A leadoff double from Yandy Díaz opened the floodgates, and two more runs followed, putting the Twins in a 7-4 hole they couldn't escape, despite scratching one run across in the bottom half.
Sunday's extra-inning affair was the latest chapter in a demanding week for the Twins' bullpen. With starter Bailey Ober on the injured list, the relief corps has been forced to cover significant innings, and the strain is beginning to show. Justin Topa was tagged with the loss after being charged with three runs (one earned) in the tenth. Recognizing the need for a fresh arm, the front office made a move before the game, recalling right-hander Travis Adams from Triple-A St. Paul. Lefty Kody Funderburk was optioned to make room. This is a clear signal that manager Rocco Baldelli is trying to manage the workload, but it's a situation to monitor closely.
While the big-league club deals with its current struggles, there's positive news brewing in the farm system. Top outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez is making significant progress in his return from a right hip strain. Having advanced his rehab assignment from the Complex League to Single-A Fort Myers, the dynamic slugger is on track for a return to full-time minor league action in the coming weeks. His power and plate discipline are exactly what the organization is excited about, and his return will be a major boost for the St. Paul Saints and the Twins' long-term future.
Losing a hard-fought game like this stings, but the season is a marathon. The immediate challenge for the Twins is to stabilize the bullpen and find a way to win these tight contests. With fresh arms being shuffled in and a key prospect on the mend, the team has the pieces to adjust. Now, they just need to put it all together and turn these close losses into wins as they head into the next series.
