FINAL: Minnesota Twins 3, Red Sox 1 - Bats Seem to Have Stayed in Boston, Twins Extend Streak

The Red Sox (18-16) have lost their third game in a row, losing 3-1 to the Minnesota Twins (19-13), who have won their 12th in a row.

The Sox offense stalled out once again, with the lone run coming off the bat of Wilyer Abreu who had a two out RBI single in the top of the first inning. Tyler O'Neill had the lone extra base hit for Boston, a double in the first. Eight runners were left on base in today's game.

It was a bullpen day for the Red Sox, as Brennan Bernardino got the start. Appearances were made by Greg Weissert, Cam Booser, who was credited with the loss after giving up the lead taking home run to Max Kepler in the fourth, Justin Slaten, and Chase Anderson. No pitcher went more than two innings for the team today.

My Player of the Game: Wilyer Abreu - He had that awesome ten pitch at bat in the first inning which lead to the only run scored for the Sox, and he also had another single on the day as well.

Boston will try to avoid the sweep tomorrow at 2:10 p.m. Probable starters are Cooper Criswell (2-1, 1.65 ERA) and Joe Ryan (1-1, 3.38 ERA).
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ___________________________________

WHO: Red Sox at Minnesota Twins
WHEN: 2:10 p.m.
WHERE: Target Field, Minneapolis
SERIES TO DATE: 0-1
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Brennan Bernardino (0-1, 0.73 ERA) vs. RHP Pablo Lopez (2-2, 4.83 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran CF
Rafael Devers 3B
Tyler O'Neill LF
Wilyer Abreu RF
Connor Wong C
Dominic Smith DH
Garrett Cooper 1B
David Hamilton 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela SS

SP Brennan Bernardino

OPPONENT

Ryan Jeffers DH
Jose Miranda 3B
Willi Castro LF
Carlos Correa SS
Max Kepler RF
Carlos Santana 1B
Christian Vazquez C
Austin Martin CF
Eduard Julien 2B

SP Pablo Lopez

WHAT'S UP

The Sox fell to MIN in the series opener last night, 5-2. Tanner Houck went 6.0 innings (6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 5 SO)... He allowed 1 run through his first 6.0 innings, then gave up 3 runs in the 7th...He leads MLB with 45.1 IP. Rafael Devers went 2-for-3 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI, and a walk, driving in the only 2 runs for Boston in the 8th.

Over their last 6 games, Red Sox leadoff batters have reached base to begin 25 of 51 offensive innings (including on error), going 16-for-43 (.372 AVG) with 8 BB (.471 OBP)...They’ve come around to score in 13 of those innings. The Sox are 16-6 when scoring the 1st run of the game...They’ve scored 1st in 22 out of their 33 games, 3rd most in MLB behind KC (23) and PHI (24).

Boston leads the Majors with a 2.66 ERA (88 ER/297.1 IP), the club’s lowest mark through 33 games since 1920 (2.57). In their last 15 games (beginning 4/17), the Sox have posted a 2.39 ERA (35 ER/132.0 IP)...They allowed fewer than 10 hits in 14 of those 15 games. The Red Sox have shut out their opponent 6 times, most in MLB and 1 more than they recorded in 2023.

Red Sox starting pitchers lead MLB with a 2.17 ERA (41 ER/170.0 IP)...They also rank 2nd in MLB in WHIP (1.02) and 3rd in opponent AVG (.209). The Sox have posted their lowest starter ERA through 33 games in the Live-Ball Era (1920-present). It is the lowest starter ERA through 33 games for any team since the 1981 Dodgers (2.17) and the lowest for an AL team since Cleveland in 1968 (1.83) (source: Elias). All 7 pitchers with multiple starts for the Sox own a starter ERA no higher than 3.04, including an MLB best 6 with a mark of 2.20 or better.

The Red Sox rank among the AL’s top 5 in runs scored (5th, 152), HR (5th, 36), AVG (5th, .245), OBP (3rd, .321), SLG (3rd, .405), OPS (3rd, .726), walks (3rd, 111), doubles (2nd, 56), triples (T-1st, 8), and stolen bases (5th, 28). In their last 9 games (beginning 4/24), the Sox have hit .295 with an .811 OPS. The Sox have hit 0 HR in their last 5 games, their longest streak since 4/23-28/22 (6 games).

Red Sox outfielders lead MLB in hits (106), XBH (43), runs scored (68), AVG (.280), SLG (.484), and OPS (.848), while ranking 2nd in OBP (.364). Boston’s catchers lead the AL in AVG (.325), OBP (.386), SLG (.509), and OPS (.895).

Boston’s off day on Monday was the club’s first of 3 in a span of 11 days from 4/29-5/9...The Sox are also off next Monday, 5/6, and Thursday, 5/9. Beginning 5/10, the Sox are scheduled to play 23 games in 24 days (off day on 5/23).

Milestones to watch for today: Dominic Smith needs one double to reach 100 in his career, and Rafael Devers needs three HRs to tie Nomar Garciaparra for 12th on the Red Sox home run list.