Red Sox Fall To Twins
BOSTON -- Eduardo Nunez hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning and drove in three runs as the Minnesota Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 11-9 on Saturday night at Fenway Park.
Nunez poked a full-count slider from reliever Heath Hembree up the middle after Minnesota fought back from a pair of three-run deficits.
Miguel Sano had three hits and blasted his 15th homer of the year while six others drove in runs for the Twins (37-60), who have won back-to-back games against the Red Sox after losing a laugher 13-2 in Thursday's series opener.
Minnesota pounded out a season-high 19 hits. Its previous high was 18, which it accomplished twice.
Twins starter Ricky Nolasco lasted two innings, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
Ryan Pressly (4-5) earned the win after 1 1/3 innings of relief, surrendering a run on three hits and a walk with a strikeout.
Brandon Kintzler pitched the ninth for his eighth save.
Hanley Ramirez hit a three-run homer -- his 12th of the campaign -- and Jackie Bradley Jr. added two RBIs for Boston (54-41), which fell 1 1/2 games behind first-place Baltimore in the American League East.
Boston starter David Price lasted 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on 11 hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
Tommy Layne (0-1) took the loss after giving up two runs on two hits and a walk while failing to record an out in the seventh.
Minnesota blew an early three-run lead before battling back to tie the game and take the lead with a five-run seventh.
David Ortiz's RBI double in the seventh made it a one-run game before a walk to Ramirez loaded the bases for Bradley, who teased the hometown fans with a deep fly out to right.
It was Ortiz's league-leading 35th double, the highest single-season total for a player 40 years or older in major league history.
Sano tacked on an insurance run with his solo homer in the eighth.
Swirling winds from a passing storm halted play throughout the first inning as sand and debris whipped around the field.
Once the dust settled, the Twins and Red Sox each had runs on sacrifice flies from Brian Dozier and Ortiz, respectively.
Kurt Suzuki's RBI double in the second initiated a three-run inning for Minnesota.
Byron Buxton's bunt single plated Suzuki, and Buxton later scored on Nunez's single.
Dustin Pedroia opened Boston's rebuttal in its five-run second with an RBI double. Nolasco later walked Ortiz on a wild pitch, allowing Brock Holt to scamper in from third.
Ramirez then drove a first-pitch fastball into the Green Monster seats in left-center field to put the Red Sox ahead.
Bradley's double in the fourth extended Boston's lead to three.
Suzuki left the game in the second after being hit in the chin by Pedroia's foul tip. He received stitches and did not suffer a concussion.
Juan Centeno replaced Suzuki behind the plate.
Buxton's sacrifice fly in the sixth brought the Twins within two until Bradley's infield single restored the Red Sox's three-run edge.
NOTES: Boston RF Mookie Betts (right knee soreness) was not in the lineup after leaving Friday's game. An MRI exam revealed swelling, but no significant damage. "Structurally everything's fine," Betts said. "Just trying to get some fluid out." INF/OF Michael Martinez, who replaced Betts Friday, started in right. ... Minnesota 1B Joe Mauer, a left-handed hitter, sat against Red Sox LHP David Price. Mauer is 6-for-34 versus Price. C Kurt Suzuki returned after resting Friday. ... Red Sox closer RHP Craig Kimbrel (left knee medial meniscus tear) will throw a bullpen session Sunday or Monday. ... The Red Sox Foundation held its annual "Run to Home Base" Saturday, benefiting veterans. The 9K run/2 1/2-mile walk ended at home plate at Fenway Park. ... Twins LHP Tommy Milone (3-2, 4.71 ERA) opposes Red Sox RHP Rick Porcello (12-2, 3.47 ERA) Sunday.
