Twins Sweep Red Sox, Move Into 1st Place Tie In AL Central
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Aaron Hicks homered for the first time in more than a year and the Minnesota Twins extended their winning streak to five games with a 6-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday.
Eddie Rosario also homered for Minnesota, which has won nine of 11. The Twins swept Boston for the first time since June 13-15, 2006.
Dustin Pedroia homered twice for the Red Sox, who have lost six of eight.
Minnesota starter Phil Hughes (4-4) allowed four earned runs in 6 2-3 innings. Glen Perkins pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 18th save in as many chances.
Hicks hit a two-run home run to right field in the fourth for a 5-2 Minnesota lead. It was Hicks' first homer in 171-at bats since April 24, 2014.
Rick Porcello (4-4) allowed six earned runs in seven innings for Boston. In his past two starts, Porcello has allowed 13 earned runs in 11 1-3 innings after allowing just six earned runs in his previous 25 2-3 innings over four starts.
Pedroia, who hit a two-run home run in the third for a 2-0 lead, hit another two-run shot in the fifth to get the Red Sox within 5-4. It was Pedroia's second multi-home run game of the season — the other was Opening Day — and fifth of his career.
Rosario homered in the sixth to make it 6-4.
Blake Swihart nearly tied the game in the seventh, but his drive to left field with a runner on was caught at the wall by Rosario.
Torii Hunter had a two-run single and Joe Mauer added an RBI single for a 3-2 Twins lead in the third.
UPCOMING ROSTER MOVE
Before Thursday's game in Texas, Boston plans to call up left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez to make his major league debut. "We're running through a stretch of 20 consecutive games played, so we're building in a sixth starter this time through the rotation," manager John Farrell said. Rodriguez is 4-3 with a 2.98 ERA at Triple-A Pawtucket. A corresponding move is expected to be made Thursday.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: OF Rusney Castillo missed the game after jarring his right shoulder on a diving catch in the eighth inning Tuesday. Farrell said Castillo couldn't get loose throwing and he believes the issue is "minor in nature."
Twins: On a rehab assignment at Triple-A Rochester, reliever Casey Fien has worked two scoreless innings and was scheduled to throw again Wednesday afternoon. "He's getting close," general manager Terry Ryan said.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: Boston opens a four-game series Thursday night in Texas with Eduardo Rodriguez making his major league debut. The left-hander will try to be the first Boston starter to win in his debut since Daisuke Matsuzaka. He'll be opposed by Texas' Nick Martinez (4-0, 1.96).
Twins: Minnesota is off Thursday before welcoming Toronto for three games over the weekend. Trevor May (3-3, 4.95) is scheduled to pitch against Toronto's Mark Buehrle (5-4, 5.13) in the series opener.
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