Twins lose to Tampa Bay 5-2; Maeda pitches two scoreless innings

March 4, 2021 at 8:56PM
Minnesota Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson gave a thumbs up to pitcher Kenta Maeda after watching him throw in the bullpen Wednesday afternoon. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com
Kenta Maeda with pitching coach Wes Johnson during a bullpen session at spring training. (Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Kenta Maeda worked out of bases-loaded jeopardy and opened his Grapefruit League season with two scoreless innings Thursday, but the Twins committed three errors and lost their third straight game, 5-2 in seven innings at Hammond Stadium.

Byron Buxton drove home reserve infielder Tzu-Wei Lin, who had doubled, with a sacrifice fly to left field, and the Twins scored another run when Keon Broxton scored on a throwing error by Rays catcher Blake Hunt.

The Twins, now 2-3, loaded the bases in the seventh inning, but Broxton grounded into a force play at second base to end the game.

Hansel Robles gave up four singles in the third inning and allowed three runs, one unearned when no infielder covered second base to catch Ryan Jeffers' attempt to throw out base-stealer Manuel Margot.

Taylor Rogers gave up a single and two walks in the fourth inning, and the Rays turned it into two runs with productive outs.

Red Wing native Ryan Boldt flied out and walked in two plate appearances for the Rays, who drafted him in the second round in 2016.

about the writer

about the writer

Phil Miller

Reporter

Phil Miller has covered the Twins for the Star Tribune since 2013. Previously, he covered the University of Minnesota football team, and from 2007-09, he covered the Twins for the Pioneer Press.

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