In a game reminiscent of Thursday night’s come-from-behind win, the Tampa Bay Rays didn’t manage to get it done this time, as the ninth inning heroics did not show up in the 2-1 loss at Minnesota. The Rays once more entered the final frame down a run and a two-out single ignited hope in the hearts of Rays fans watching at home again. But Carl Crawford, the man who made it happen Thursday, grounded into the final out of a frustrating loss.
This game kicked off looking great, with Crawford and Evan Longoria doubling back-to-back , and Crawford scoring to take an early lead. The offense was sparse, but the Rays’ defense kept a stranglehold on the fragile lead with impressive play from Ben Zobrist and Reid Brignac. Brignac gunned down Danny Valencia at the plate during an early scoring attempt in the third inning and Big Ben continued making highlight reel catches in center field while B.J. Upton sits out.
