Final: Red Sox 9, Twins 2 - Offense comes alive

MINNEAPOLIS - Limited to just three runs in the first two games of this series, the Red Sox lineup sprung to life Thursday afternoon, pounding out 16 hits and spanking the Minnesota Twins 9-0 to end their long three-city road trip on a high note.

The Sox got at least one hit from every member of their starting lineup except one and smacked two homers to support the superb pitching of Rick Porcello, who allowed a first inning single and then didn't allow another hit over seven strong innings. He retired the final 16 hitters he faced.

In addition to the homers (Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi), the Sox got five hits with runners in scoring position -- or, three more than they had managed in the first two games at Target Field.

 

3:21    Strange aspect of Porcello's start: after getting all three outs in the first inning on the ground, he's had just one groundout since. Everything else has been in the air (seven popups or flyouts; two lineouts) and strikeouts (five).

3:12    Bogaerts was convinced that the line drive he hit to left was going out. Instead, it hit about halfway up the wall in left and Bogaerts had to motor...quickly. Then, thanks to a looping throw home, he was able to advance from second to third.

2:47    Porcello finds himself on a nice roll, retiring the last eight in a row and 11 of the last 12.

2:28   First homer by Mookie Betts since June 13, dating back 26 at-bats. Doubles the Sox' lead to 2-0.

2:18   A rarity - a hit with a man in scoring position and it came from the bottom of the order. Sandy Leon handled a slider in on his hands, and drills it hard into right field, scoring Mitch Moreland from second base.

1:44 Two hallmarks from this series continue - inability to hit with runners in scoring position and lack of production from the bottom half of lineup. Through two innings, the Sox are 2-for-24 with RISP in this series. Meanwhile, lineup spots 6-through-9 are a collective 4-for-30.

1:31  There's little doubt that drilling Eduardo Escobar was intentional by Rick Porcello, after Kyle Gibson sent J.D. Martinez sprawling to the dirt in the top of the inning. Porcello is decidedly old school and is intent on protecting teammates. You can agree or disagree with this tactic, but at least he kept the pitch below the shoulders and wasn't headhunting.

WHO: Red Sox vs. Minnesota Twins
WHEN: 1:10 p.m.
WHERE: Target Field
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox will try to avoid being swept for the first time this season with today's matinee finale. Boston has lost the first two -- 6-2 in the opener and 4-1 Wednesday night -- and has lost four of their last five overall. Since going 4-0 to start this 10-game, three-city trip, the Sox have won just once. A big part of the problem has been the offense, which has generated just two runs or fewer in five of the last nine games. The Twins, meanwhile, are buoyed for their last two games, having come into this series six games under .500.
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Rick Porcello (8-3, 3.70) vs. RHO Kyle Gibson (2-4, 3.27)
TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM



LINEUPS

RED SOX

Betts RF
Benintendi LF
Martinez DH
Moreland 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Holt 2B
Leon C
Bradley CF

TWINS

Mauer 1B
Dozier 2B
Escobar 3B
Morrison DH
Grossman LF
Kepler RF
Adrianza SS
LaMarre CF
Wilson C