Rays fall to Twins 6-5 on July 6, 2025, after a stunning walk-off bunt. Amid the loss, Brandon Lowe makes history, tying the franchise's 20-game hit streak.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a loss that stings in a way few others can. After battling for nine innings, the Tampa Bay Rays saw their hopes of a Saturday victory vanish on the softest of hits—a perfectly placed walk-off bunt single by Brooks Lee that handed the Minnesota Twins a 6-5 win. The bizarre ending capped a day of wild emotional swings that saw Brandon Lowe etch his name in the franchise record books.
Brandon Lowe has now hit safely in 20 consecutive games, tying the Rays franchise record.
The ninth inning was a masterclass in baseball's ability to humble you. Garrett Cleavinger, who took the tough-luck loss to fall to 0-4, just couldn't find the final out. A walk to the speedy Byron Buxton followed by a Willi Castro single set the stage. Then came Brooks Lee, who laid down a bunt that trickled just far enough down the third-base line to score Buxton, ending the game in stunning fashion. It was a deflating end to a game where the Rays showed plenty of fight.
Amid the disappointment, there was a major silver lining. With a clean single in the fifth inning, Brandon Lowe extended his hitting streak to a remarkable 20 games. The streak ties the franchise record set just last season by Yandy Díaz. Lowe's consistency has been a bedrock for the offense, and watching him chase history has been a daily thrill. He now stands alone with Díaz atop the Rays' record books, a testament to his incredible run at the plate.
You have to feel for Danny Jansen. The Rays catcher did everything in his power to will the team to victory, falling just a home run short of the cycle. Jansen torched Twins pitching for a single, a double, and a triple, providing a massive offensive spark. Even starter Taj Bradley looked sharp for much of the day, at one point retiring 13 of 14 batters before running into trouble in the sixth. It was a day of strong individual performances that, frustratingly, didn't add up to a team win.
The sting of a walk-off loss, especially on a bunt, is tough to shake. But the Rays have no time to dwell on it. Sunday's series finale is a massive rubber match with a marquee pitching matchup. Drew Rasmussen (7-5, 2.78 ERA) takes the hill against the Twins' ace, Joe Ryan (8-4, 2.75 ERA). It's a chance to wash away the bad taste of Saturday's loss, secure a crucial series win, and start a new winning streak. First pitch can't come soon enough.
