Jose Miranda hits game-tying, three-run homer, but Twins falls to Rays in 10

Jose Miranda hit a game-tying three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Jonny DeLuca’s RBI single in the 10th was enough for the Tampa Bay Rays to escape the series finale with a 7-6 victory on Thursday afternoon. at Doelveld in Minneapolis.

DeLuca’s single off Twins reliever Griffin Jax scored automatic runner Taylor Walls in the top of the 10th. Carlos Correa flied out to center field to lead off the bottom of the inning, and Jose Siri’s big throw beat automatic runner Royce Lewis at third base for a double play. While Ryan Jeffers singled the next at bat, Carlos Santana flied out to center to end the game.

“It’s one of the best throws I’ve ever seen down the field, throwbacks over his body,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said of Siri’s throwout of Lewis. “… I would like (Lewis) to go at the exact same ball again in the exact same situation.”

Amed Rosario hit an RBI double in the eighth inning to drive home the go-ahead run for the Rays, who then found a trio of runs on a pair of home runs in the ninth inning and seemed well on their way to a victory.

Trailing 3-2 after Rosario’s double in the eighth inning, Twins reliever Jay Jackson surrendered a 400-foot solo homer to Jose Siri, followed by a two-run, 400-foot blast to Yandy Diaz, making it a 6-2 became a competition.

Baldelli said after the game that Jackson would be designated for assignment.

But Rays reliever Chris Devenski gave up a 400-foot solo homer to Santana in the bottom half of the inning, followed by a double to Byron Buxton before walking Kyle Farmer to end his day. Pete Fairbanks came on in relief, but he gave up Miranda’s 100-yard shot and three runs.

“I was ecstatic,” said Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson, who gave up just two runs on four hits while fanning six in six innings. “It just proves how strong and how competitive we are. We don’t give up. … Until the last battle, we still believe we can win.”

Lewis hit a deep ball to center field the next at bat, but it wasn’t far enough to clear the fence.

“I mean, every ball he hits now, I think it’s a home run,” Miranda said. “So I thought, ‘That’s gone, game over.’ But yeah, I think he just missed it.”

The Twins (41-34) tied the game at 2-2 during the bottom of the third inning when Lewis hit a solo homer 300 feet to left field, his second homer in as many days and ninth in 15 games this season .

The Rays (36-39) took a 2-1 lead in the top of the inning when Brandon Lowe hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Alex Jackson, who led off the frame with a double to left field.

Both teams scored runs in the second inning, making it a 1-1 game. Josh Lowe and Randy Arozarena hit back-to-back doubles, with Arozarena’s Lowe scoring to make it a 1-0 game in the top of the inning. Kyle Farmer tied the knot for the Twins with an RBI double in the bottom, scoring Santana, who hit a pair of at-bats earlier. It remained a 2-2 game until Rosario’s double in the eighth inning.

The Twins now embark on a road trip, which kicks off on Friday night at the Oakland Athletics. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:40 PM