Rays Colored Glasses: Win Streak Ends with loss to the Twins

April 17, 2011
v. Minnesota Twins
Attendance: 22,426

W: Brian Duensing (1-0) 3.60 ERA
L: Jeremy Hellickson (1-2) 4.50 ERA
S: Matt Capps (1) 4.00 ERA

Summary:
The Rays were looking for a four game sweep and a six game winning streak today against the Minnesota Twins. It was not to be. They led briefly twice in this game. They scored a run in the third on a  Johnny Damon single that drove in Elliot Johnson. This was after he got hit on the hand attempting a bunt. He would leave the game shortly thereafter and is listed day-to-day.

The Twins tied up the game the very next inning on a Jason Kubel homer to opposite field and the Rays took the lead in the bottom half on a Sean Rodriguez triple that brought in Ben Zobrist.

Jeremy Hellickson was not pitching as well as the results might have indicated, although he did not deserve what happened to him in the fifth. The Twins were able to plate three runs thanks to some shoddy defensive work. One run scored when Kelly Shoppach threw wildly to centerfield. Another run scored when Matt Tolbert tripled in a run. The hit should have been a single, but Zobrist misplayed the line drive into three bases.

The Twins eventually won 4-2 although both teams had numerous chances to score.

Last week at this time, the Rays were looking at a 1-8 record. A 5-1 week has improved their overall record to 6-9, still not great, but much better than they were. You can’t really tell how good a team is during their streaks and so far the Rays have been very streaky. Hopefully these next few will tell us a lot about this team. The Rays will play four more with the White Sox before travelling on to Toronto.