Twins beat Red Sox 4-2 for fourth straight win
By BRIAN HALL Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Gio Urshela's three-run double in the fifth inning pushed Minnesota ahead and four relievers made the lead as the Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 on Monday night for their fourth straight win.
Urshela punched a 3-2 pitch from John Schreiber into the right-field corner, scoring all three runners who had walked. AL batting leader Luis Arraez had two hits for Minnesota and scored on the double.
Caleb Thielbar (3-2) earned the win in relief of starter Dylan Bundy. Thielbar pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings after Bundy had allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Thielbar, Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax and Jorge López combined to allow just one baserunner in the final 4 1/3 innings. López finished for his 23rd save, fourth with Minnesota.
The Twins pulled within 1 1/2 games of idle Cleveland in the AL Central.
Brayan Bello (0-4) surrendered three runs in four-plus innings. His day was done after walking Arraez and Correa to start the fifth.
The Red Sox lost for the sixth time in eight games. They started the day seven games back of the final wild-card spot in the AL.
Alex Verdugo and Reese McGuire had RBI doubles against Bundy. In his second game back from the injured list, Trevor Story had three hits and a walk for Boston.
BULLPEN CHANGES
Boston recalled RHP Kaleb Ort from Triple-A Worcester and selected the contract of RHP Zack Kelly from Triple-A. Kelly made his major league debut with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts. The Red Sox designated LHP Austin Davis and RHP Hirokazu Sawamura for assignment.
Minnesota recalled LHP Jovani Moran from Triple-A St. Paul and optioned LHP Devin Smeltzer to Triple-A.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: RHP Tanner Houck (lower back inflammation) is scheduled to throw live batting practice for Worcester on Tuesday. ... RHP Nathan Eovaldi (right shoulder inflammation) is scheduled for a bullpen session Tuesday at Fenway Park. ... 1B Eric Hosmer (low back inflammation) was scheduled to start swinging a bat Monday, doing soft toss and tee work, and could advance to a rehab game later in the week.
Twins: 2B Jorge Polanco missed his second straight game as he deals with a knee injury. Manager Rocco Baldelli said Polanco's knee hasn't shown much improvement. The injury doesn't bother Polanco running but is an issue when hitting. ... RHP Tyler Mahle (right shoulder inflammation) has thrown bullpen sessions and is progressing to a return to the rotation later this week. ... President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey said that Byron Buxton (low-grade right hip strain) is still feeling soreness in his hip and he'll stay in Minnesota to continue rehab when the team leaves for the next road trip. ... Falvey said Kenta Maeda (elbow ligament replacement surgery) is unlikely to return this season in an update on several injured players.
UP NEXT
RHP Kutter Crawford (3-5, 5.30 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Red Sox on Tuesday. Minnesota will start RHP Chris Archer (2-7, 4.34). Crawford has allowed 13 earned runs over his last two starts, spanning 8 1/3 innings. Archer gave up five runs in four innings in his last start against Houston.