All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 2-1 loss to the Twins, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Betts supplies the only offense: For the night, the Red Sox mustered just four hits -- and only two through the first eight innings. Betts belted his third homer in the last two games and fifth in the last six when he drove a pitch off the Pesky Pole to lead off the fourth. He later doubled to center in the sixth. In the last 15 games, he's slashing .362/.397/.754 with 13 RBI. The two extra-base hits gave him 71 for the season, giving him four straight seasons of 70 or more extra-base hits. In Red Sox history, only Ted Williams and Nomar Garciaparra reached 70 extra-base in at least four of their first six major league seasons. And while his season has been as good last year's, he stands a good chance to score more runs, hit more homers and knock in more runs this year than last.
Eovaldi turns in his best start since April: Although he only went five innings, Nathan Eovaldi limited a tough Twins lineup to a single run. He allowed only one hit through his first four innings. In the fifth, he suddenly lost control of the strike zone and walked three straight hitters to lead off the inning. A double-play helped, though a run scored. He then ended the threat by getting Jonathan Schoop to fly out. "I felt really good all the way up until that fifth inning,'' said Eovaldi. "I don't know if it was mechanical, or what it was -- maybe nibbling a little bit. I felt like I was all around the zone and couldn't get the strikes when I needed them.''
Bullpen pays for walks, too: In a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning, reliever Andrew Cashner suffered through an inning like the one Eovaldi had two innings earlier, walking the bases loaded. The Sox opted to go to Matt Barnes with two down and the bases full, but pinch-hitter Willians Astudillo hit a soft liner to right field, enough to score the go-ahead run from first base. Of the nine walks the Sox pitching staff gave up -- four by Eovaldi and five from the relievers -- two scored, representing the only runs the Twins could muster all night.
TURNING POINT
In the sixth inning, the Red Sox used a two-out double from Betts, a walk by Xander Bogaerts and a throwing error by Martin Perez to put two baserunners in scoring position with two out. But Rafael Devers grounded out to first, stranding two.
ONE UP
Marcus Walden: He was the most effective of four Red Sox relievers, tossing a scoreless sixth and has a 2.08 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP over his last 17 appearances, dating back to July 31.
ONE DOWN
Rafael Devers: Dropped to No. 3 in the order for the night because of the lefty starter for the Twins, Devers couldn't get anything going at the plate, going 0-for-4.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I actually thought I had a good chance of scoring, but it didn't work out that way.'' Rafael Devers, who was thrown out at the plate for the final out of the game.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The loss was the first for the Red Sox while allowing just two hits since Sept. 4, 2016, at Oakland when the Sox lost 1-0.
- It also marked the 18th one-run loss of the season.
- Mookie Betts has now collected 40 or more doubles five seasons in a row.