MINNEAPOLIS (Neth.) – Max Kepler’s single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Minnesota a 4-3 victory over Boston on Thursday, breaking a five-game loss series for the Twins and disrupting a nine-game winning streak for the Red Sox.
Boston, which tied the score in eighth thanks to a three-run double by Alex Verdugo, had broken its longest winning streak since having 10 wins in 2018, the season in which they won the World Series.
The Twins avoided their worst streak in three years under manager Rocco Baldelli.
Venezuelan Luis Arráez opened the ninth with his ninth goal of the afternoon, a single off Adam Ottavino (1-1). Jorge Polanco was hit by a ball. Nelson Cruz, plunged into a 10-game hitting streak, went on to strikeouts.
But Kepler reacted with his single to short midfield and the Twins avoided its first four-game sweep against Boston in 21 years.
Dominican Alex Colomé (1-1) hung zero in the ninth for the win.
For the Red Sox, the Mexican Verdugo 4-1, three RBI’s. Puerto Ricans Kiké Hernández 3-1 and Christian Vázquez 4-0. The Dominicans Rafael Devers and Franchy Cordero, both 4-0
For the Twins, the Venezuelans scored Arráez 5-4, scored one and two RBI’s; and Williams Astudillo 3-0. Dominicans Nelson Cruz 5-1; Jorge Polanco 3-0; and Miguel Sanó 2-1, one scored and one dragged.