Rays Salvage Finale Against Twins

The Rays salvaged the last of this three game set by beating the Twins 12-5. It certainly wasn’t a laugher throughout the game, but the Rays put the game away late. Some thoughts:

• The Rays won the game 12-5, but the hit column was even at 14. Ironically, it was the Rays who were not converting chances at the beginning of the game. They actually looked quite efficient by the end.
• Rays pitchers couldn’t put this game away. They had leads of two, three, and then four going into the bottom of the eighth when they finally put it away.
• Johnny Damon got hit by a pitch twice and had to leave the game when the second bean ball hit him on the hand. No break though. It looks like Damon will be out a few games. Sean Rodriguez was also hit by a pitch by Twins’ starter Francisco Liriano. Rays pitchers didn’t retaliate. 
• Oddly enough, Joe Maddon chose Sam Fuld to bat for Damon when the DH slot came up again. I would have chosen Matthew Joyce as I wouldn’t have wanted to lose one my best outfielders to the DH role. Super Sam did his best Damon impersonation by getting on base three times and scoring twice.
• Sean Rodriguez homered off a right-hander in the eighth to give the Rays a 9-5 lead which has to help his confidence.
• Evan Longoria added a garbage three-run home run, or so it appeared at first, in the ninth. The homer kept Farnsworth out of the game, but Adam Russell loaded the bases before finally closing out the game.
• Finally, it’s amazing to me that over 39,000 people showed up on a weekday afternoon to Target Field. I’m watching the Angels game and there’s hardly anyone in the bleachers and down the lines. The Twins were on the edge of contraction just 10 years ago and now they couldn’t be healthier at the ticket window.

Player of the Game: Evan Longoria