Red Sox Edge Twins 4-3
The Boston Red Sox beat the Twins for a 2nd straight night 4-3 at Target Field Tuesday night. Boston broke the 3-all tie when David Ortiz hit a swinging bunt off Phil Dumatrait with the bases loaded in the 7th inning. Dumatrait tried to field the ball and couldn't get a handle on it and Dustin Pedroia was safe at the plate. Matt Capps took the loss in relief allowing 1 earned run and 2 walks in 1/3 of an inning. Francisco Liriano allowed 4 hits, 7 walks and 3 earned runs in 6 innings for Minnesota. Joe Mauer and Danny Valencia each had 2 hits and 1 run scored for the Twins.
Minnesota is 51-65 and is 10 1/2 games back of Detroit for first place in the American League Central. The Twins will host Boston again tonight at 7:10, pregame on WJON at 6:40. Righthander Nick Blackburn (7-9) gets the start on the mound for the Twins and lefthander Jon Lester (11-5) toes the rubber for Boston. Minnesota has lost 6 straight and 9 of their last 10.