All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 2-0 win over the Twins, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Porcello spins a beauty: Rick Porcello has a history of pitching well at Target Field, but Monday night represented a tougher-than-usual challenge. The Twins have been the most powerful lineup in the American League and sport the best record, too. But Porcello was masterful, going seven shutout innings and allowing just four hits and one walk. The Twins didn't get a baserunner to third base all night. After he was touched for a two-out double by Nelson Cruz in the first, Porcello retired the next 10 in a row and 14 of the next 15 hitters he faced. And despite usually not being a big strikeout pitcher, Porcello racked up five in a row at one point and finished with eight in his seven innings. Statistically, this might not have been his best outing of the season -- that probably took place back in late April, when he shut out the Oakland A's over eight, allowing just two hits in that one. But given the quality of the competition, this was undoubtedly his most impressive start.
Bullpen comes through: Alex Cora said before the game that he wouldn't have Brandon Workman available to him, and probably not Marcus Walden, either. Toss in Heath Hembree on the IL and Cora was without three of his high-leverage options. So Cora had to improvise and opted for Colten Brewer to preserve a 1-0 lead in the eighth. Brewer's inning began ominously as he allowed a soft line single to left to Jonathan Schoop, then walked Max Kepler, putting the potential tying run in scoring position and the potential go-ahead run at first. But Brewer strapped in and retired the next three hitters. Cora then turned to Ryan Brasier, just back from the bereavement list, and Brasier got the Twins in order in the ninth for the save.
Sox' hitters handcuffed by Berrios: As good as Porcello, Twins starter Jose Berrios matched him pitch for pitch. He yielded three straight hits to produce the game's first run in the first inning, then set down the next 19 hitters in the Red Sox lineup before Xander Bogaerts snapped the streak with a two-out single in the seventh. "He was amazing,'' gushed Alex Cora. He fanned 10 and didn't walk a single batter as he went eight full innings, throwing 104 pitches. The Sox may not see a better effort from an opposing starter all season, but thanks to the one run they managed right out of the gate and Porcello's own brilliant outing, they had enough to win.
TURNING POINT
Clinging to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the eighth, the Twins had runners at second and third with one out. Nelson Cruz swung and a hit a dribbler just to the right of the mound. Colten Brewer charged it and underhanded a throw home as Jonathan Schoop was coming down the line. Schoop reversed field and attempted to get back to third, but the Sox nicely executed the rundown, tagging him out halfway between home and the third base bag. With two outs and two on, the Sox got out of the inning a few pitches later on a groundout to first.
ONE UP
Xander Bogaerts: Bogaerts had a two-out single in the seventh, but his big moment came in the ninth when, on an 0-and-2 count, he drove a double to right center, scoring J.D. Martinez with a huge insurance run.
ONE DOWN
Rafael Devers: It was a rare off-night at the plate for the powerful third baseman, who was 0-for-4, stranding two runners in the process.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"He gave us what we needed. We were very limited today in the bullpen and we needed him to go deep into the game and he did more than that -- he dominated.'' Alex Cora on Rick Porcello.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The win was the eighth in a row on the road for the Red Sox.
- The Sox improved to 10-4 in their last 14 games against the Twins.
- Ryan Brasier recorded his first save since April 21.
- This was just the ninth time the Red Sox began a series this year with a win.