All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 4-3 loss to the Twins, complete with BSJ analysis and insight
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Bullpen eventually buckles: It's been a demanding 10 days for the Red Sox bullpen, between short outings from starters and now, two extra-inning games on the current road trip. And that wear-and-tear showed on a couple of occasions Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. David Price was lifted after just five innings and 73 pitches, and the Sox used eight relievers over the next 12 innings. At times, the bullpen performed strong work, working out of difficult jams in the 12th and 15th. But twice, the pen blew saves. In the eighth, Brandon Workman's two walks proved costly as a run-scoring single by Max Kepler erased a 2-1 Sox lead. In the 13th, Kapler homered in the bottom of the 13th after Mookie Betts had homered to give the Sox a lead. Finally, Kapler struck again, this time off Brian Johnson, to win it.
Once more, issues with RISP: It's been an issue time and time again for the Red Sox this season -- the failure to produce a big hit when they need it. It's probably directly cost them anywhere from a half-dozen to 10 games since the start of the season and last night, it was particularly egregious. The Sox stranded 13 baserunners and were a woeful 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. "We had traffic all over the place,'' said Alex Cora in frustration. Indeed. The Sox had the leadoff man on in the fifth, sixth, eighth, 10th, 14th and 17th and couldn't score. Eventually, their chances ran out.
Game ends in controversy -- sort of: The Red Sox initially angrily contended that Eddie Rosario stepped out of the batter's box while fouling off a bunt attempt in the bottom of the 17th and should have been called out. Replays showed that Rosario, hitting lefthanded, had his right foot almost completely out of the box. Cora came out to argue with home plate umpire Jeremie Rehak, but Rehak offered no relief. Later in the same at-bat, Rosario doubled to right, sending Luis Arraez to third. After an intentional walk to C.J. Cron, Max Kepler singled home Arraez scored the winning run. As the game ended, Cora had to be restrained from going after Rehak after the umpires left the field, held back by his coaches, with an equally livid Rick Porcello adding his own two cents. Shortly after the game, Cora apologized and said replays indicated that Rosario's foot was still partially in the box.
TURNING POINT
In the top of the 17th, Andrew Benintendi singled, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by Minnesota catcher Mitch Garver. The Sox had the potential winning run 90 feet from home with no outs. But J.D. Martinez took a called third strike, and Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts were retired on groundouts, stranding Benintendi. In the bottom of the inning, the Twins struck for the last time.
TWO UP
Rafael Devers: Devers knocked in the first two Red Sox runs of the night with a run-scoring single and a solo homer.
Brock Holt: Holt tried to ignite innings several times for the Sox late in the game, collecting three hits from the 10th inning on, but could never get himself driven home.
ONE DOWN
J.D. Martinez: Martinez had an absolutely horrid night at the plate, going 0-for-8 with five strikeouts while stranding four baserunners.
Christian Vazquez: Vazquez made a brilliant throw to pick off Mitch Garber at third in the sixth, but had a brutal night at the plate, three times making outs with the potential go-ahead run in scoring position each time.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We did everything today -- hit and runs, bunts, steals, everything -- and in the end, we didn't score enough runs. We didn't finish the job.'' Alex Cora on the team's struggles with scoring opportunities.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING:
- The game was the longest -- by innings and time elapsed -- this season.
- The loss was the first extra-inning loss on the road for the Sox who came in 4-0 in such games.
- The five strikeouts by J.D. Martinez were a career high.