Rays stop Twins’ winning streak in extras

MINNEAPOLIS — Randy Arozarena scored for the Tampa Bay Rays on a throwing error by Minnesota’s Royce Lewis with two outs in the 10th inning in a 3-2 victory that ended the Twins’ six-game winning streak Wednesday.

The Rays, who improved to 25-11 in games decided by one or two runs, won for only the fourth time in their last 12 games.

“We didn’t really drop the ball, but we found a way to score at the end,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said, praising Arozarena for his stolen base that put him in scoring position . “At the end of the game, these plays are crucial right now.”

Jason Adam (4-1) pitched a perfect ninth for the win. Phil Maton went 1-2-3 in the 10th for his second save, with closer Pete Fairbanks unavailable.

Jorge Alcala (1-2) hit Arozarena with a pitch to start the inning. He threw a sinker into the dirt so wildly that it ricocheted off the backstop and straight to catcher Christian Vázquez for a relatively easy putout of autorunner Jose Siri at third.

Lewis, who had an otherwise stellar night in the field and at the plate, fielded a sharp chopper from Jonny DeLuca to his left and sent his deep throw past first baseman Carlos Santana, allowing Arozarena to to return to his place.

“Out of hand, it just cut. That’s all I have for you,” Lewis said. “I wouldn’t do anything different about this room. I put my feet down and made the best throw I could.

Lewis went 3 for 4 with a walk and a game-clinching home run in the fifth inning that broke part of a video board at Target Field.

Isaac Paredes hit his team-leading 11th home run in Game 3 off Twins starter Joe Ryan, who went six innings with a 2-1 lead before a bumpy performance from the bullpen. Ryan made another bid to make his first All-Star team, allowing one run on six hits and one walk.

Ryan, who was selected in the seventh round by the Rays in the same 2018 draft that picked up Bradley in the fifth round, was traded to the Twins in 2021 for 55-game veteran slugger Nelson Cruz. The Rays lost in the playoff division series about 2 1/2 months later.

Rays starter Taj Bradley allowed two runs and seven hits with two walks in six innings.

Lewis hit his eighth home run in 14 games this season. He recently returned from a serious quadriceps muscle strain suffered in the season opener. With an exit velocity measured at 108.7 mph, this one ricocheted off the ribbon that faces the second deck above left field — and appeared to knock out a long section of LED lights that represented the rotating advertisements. The red Budweiser logos that existed at the time ended in a blank black spot, just like the rest that followed.

In 90 career major league games, including the postseason, Lewis hit 29 home runs with 74 RBIs.

“I keep saying it: ‘More to come,’” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said.

Yandy Diaz tied the game in the seventh with the sweetest of singles, a bunt of sorts that dribbled down the third-base line where Lewis had no play. The Rays put that run back together with a bloop single, a stolen base and an error by shortstop Carlos Correa when the pitch bounced off his glove and into center field to put Jose Caballero at third.

“It was a strange game,” Cash said. “I’m glad we got it out. Many good things.

TRAINERS ROOM

Fairbanks played catch without any issues before the game, after the thumb of his throwing hand was bruised by a comebacker Tuesday. He said he hoped to be available by Thursday.

FOLLOWING

The Rays will send RHP Zack Littell (2-5, 4.24 ERA) to the mound for the series finale Thursday afternoon, facing Twins rookie RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (2-1, 3.29 ERA) .