The Minnesota Twins rolled to a 6-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park on Tuesday in spring training action. David Bañuelos paced the offense, going 1-for-1 with a double and three RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Joe Ryan turned in a solid outing, working 3.0 innings of scoreless ball. The Rays out-hit the Twins 7-6 on the day. It was an encouraging performance for the Twins as they continue sharpening the roster for the regular season. Games like these serve as a valuable measuring stick for where the team stands heading into the campaign.
Key Performers
David Bañuelos was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-1 with a double and three RBI. The ability to drive the ball into the gaps stood out. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Twins offense.
Matt Wallner also contributed, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, Aaron Sabato chipped in, going 1-for-1 with a double and an RBI, and Jose Salas added to the attack, going 1-for-1 with an RBI. It was a balanced attack that kept the pressure on from the first pitch to the last.
On the other side of the diamond, Kenny Piper led the Rays offense with a 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI day. Raynel Delgado also contributed, going 1-for-3 with two RBI. Ryan Vilade added a 1-for-1 with an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Twins pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Joe Ryan got the start, grinding through his innings, working 3.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 2 hits. He threw 48 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 4.6 innings of work, allowing 5 earned runs while striking out four. The relief corps did its job in protecting the lead after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Eston Stull recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Zak Kent stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Rays got on the board first with three runs in the seventh inning. The Twins struck back with six runs in the eighth. Rays answered with two runs in the ninth. The Twins made their one big inning count, doing all of their damage in a single frame. Rays out-hit the Twins 7-6, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 3,149 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was a productive day for the Twins, who continue to put the pieces in place ahead of the regular season. The coaching staff will take the positives from this outing and use the remaining spring games to finalize the roster. Days like this one suggest the Twins are heading in the right direction as Opening Day draws closer.