The Twins shook off a terrible loss to the lowly Kansas City Royals on Tuesday and scored eight runs on 15 hits to beat them 8-5 on Wednesday. The Twins won the series and are now 6-1 on their 11-game home stand. The Tampa Bay Rays arrive Thursday for a four-game set.
Lance Lynn improved to 7-7, but barely after he threw 114 pitches in five innings. Lynn continues to struggle with his command after he walked three more batters. Prior to Wednesday’s game, Lynn was second in the American League in base on balls with 52.
But Lynn got plenty of support from Brian Dozier and Logan Morrison, both of whom homered. Dozier hit No. 15, while Morrison hit No. 11, yet is still hitting .193. Once again, the bottom of the order came out swinging. Jake Cave went 2-for-4, including a triple, and backstop Bobby Wilson went 3-for-4, including a double, and drove in three runs.
Kyle Gibson gets the ball Thursday.
Extra innings…
-So, are the Twins for real? We’ll find out when the Rays come to town because I think the Orioles and Royals would make any team look good. The Rays, however, are no pushovers. They hold their own in the incredibly challenging AL East and swept the Twins at the beginning of the season. Blake Snell gets the ball in Game 1 and he is a tough customer. The Shoreline, Washington product is 12-4 with a 2.09 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 116 innings pitched.
-Reliever Addison Reed, who did not pitch well in Tuesday’s loss, has landed on the disabled list with right triceps tightness, according to MLB.com.