Nolasco, Plouffe Help Twins Stay Hot in 7-2 Win Over Red Sox

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ricky Nolasco struck out five in 7 2-3 innings and Trevor Plouffe hit a three-run homer to lead the surging Minnesota Twins to a 7-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday.

Nolasco (5-1) gave up two runs on seven hits to win his fifth straight start since coming off the disabled list.

The Twins got 16 hits to pick up their AL-leading 16th win in May. After a 1-6 start the Twins (26-18) are now just two games behind first-place Kansas City in the AL Central.

Joe Kelly (1-4) lasted just 1 2-3 innings. He gave up seven runs on eight hits in a performance that sapped any sense of momentum the Red Sox had after picking up two straight wins over the Angels.

Mike Napoli had two hits for Boston, but his string of three straight games with a homer was snapped.