Wacha goes 6 effective innings, Rays beat Twins 5-3

Published 9:48 pm Friday, September 3, 2021

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Michael Wacha struck out seven over six innings, Kevin Kiermaier had an RBI triple during a three-run second and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 5-3 on Friday night.

The AL East-leading Rays had lost two straight following a nine-game winning streak.

Wacha (3-4) gave up two runs and three hits, including two homers. He was 0-2 with a 6.99 ERA in his previous eight starts.

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Andrew Kittredge, the third Tampa Bay reliever, worked the ninth to get his sixth save.

Jorge Polanco and Ryan Jeffers homered for the Twins.

Randy Dobnak (1-7), making his first start since June 19 after being sidelined by a right middle finger strain, allowed five runs and six hits over seven innings. The right-hander retired his final 15 batters.

Austin Meadows doubled leading off the second, went to third on a wild pitch and came home on Randy Arozarena’s broken-bat grounder. Kiermaier hit his triple and scored to make it 3-1 on Yandy Díaz’s grounder.

Nelson Cruz, acquired from Minnesota in July, had a run-scoring double, and Meadows picked up his 94th RBI with a single that put Tampa Bay ahead 5-1 in the third.

Polanco connected on his career-high 25th homer in the first. Only Chili Davis, with 29 in 1991, has more homers as a switch-hitter in a season in Twins history.

Jeffers had a fifth-inning solo drive. Polanco got the Twins within 5-3 in the eighth on an RBI double down the left-field line that Meadows appeared to over slide.

Wander-less

Rays SS Wander Franco didn’t play, one day after leaving Thursday’s game against Boston with a headache.

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said tests were negative and anticipates the 20-year old will be back within a game or two.

Flashing leather

Twins CF Byron Buxton made a leaping catch at the wall on Francisco Mejía’s fourth-inning drive, and RF Max Kepler had a tumbling catch on Cruz’s liner during the fifth. Minnesota SS Andrelton Simmons made a diving grab on Mejía’s second-inning grounder but was unable to throw him out from his knees. Simmons was checked by a trainer and stayed in the game until he was pinch-hit for in the eighth.

Special recognition

Cruz is the godfather for Twins 1B Miguel Sanó’s recently born daughter.

“It’s an honor,” Cruz said.

Trainer’s room

Twins: RHP Michael Pineda (left oblique strain) is scheduled to follow RHP Bailey Ober in his start early next week.

Rays: Manager Kevin Cash said closer Nick Anderson (sprained right elbow) is trending in the right direction on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham.

Up next

Twins LHP Andrew Albers (1-0) will start Saturday and is coming off a win over Milwaukee on Aug. 27 in his first start since Sept. 30, 2017 with Seattle. The 35-year old, who spent parts of 2013 and 2016 with Minnesota, hadn’t won a game for the Twins since Aug. 12, 2013.

Rays: RHP Chris Archer (0-1) will make his third start after missing four months with right forearm tightness.