TAMPA, Fla. — The Twins’ momentum that saw them get back in the American League Central race ended in sweltering Florida.
Pablo López gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three on Wednesday in a 5-0 loss to Tampa Bay. Minnesota managed just one hit in six innings against Rays starter Drew Rasmussen and couldn’t break through with five hits in the final three innings against three relievers.
The loss is the Twins’ third in four games and dropped them to 30-25, tied with Cleveland in the Central at six games behind Detroit.
Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero hit fourth-inning home runs, and Drew Rasmussen allowed one hit in six innings to lead Tampa Bay. Lowe led off the fourth with his 11th home run. Caminero hit his 10th with Jonathan Aranda aboard.
Aranda added an RBI single and the Rays’ also scored on a balk. Lowe, Aranda and Caminero had two hits each. Chandler Simpson stole two bases for 16 this season.
Rasmussen (4-4) gave up a single to his former Oregon State teammate Trevor Larnach on the second pitch of the game. He also allowed a walk and a hit-by-pitch. He struck out five.
Rasmussen won his third straight six-inning scoreless start. Edwin Uceta, Mason Montgomery and Connor Seabold completed the Rays’ fifth shutout this season. The Rays finished their homestand 7-2.
López (4-3) lost for the first time in five May starts. He had given up three homers all season before Wednesday.
The Twins finished with six singles, including 27-year-old rookie Carson McCusker’s first MLB hit.
Key moment
Uceta gave up consecutive singles to open the seventh inning but then retired the next three batters with Josh Lowe making a leaping catch of Royce Lewis’ fly ball at the right-field wall for the third out.
Key stat
Brandon Lowe extended his hitting streak to 11 games, one shy of his career high. He is 16 of 39 for a .410 average with four homers and six RBIs during the streak.
Up next
The Rays are at Houston on Thursday with Shane Baz (4-3, 4.94) pitching. The Astros hadn’t announced a starter. The Twins are at Seattle on Friday with Zebby Matthews (0-1, 7.71) facing the Mariners’ Bryan Woo (5-2, 2.40).
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