The Minnesota Twins dropped the first game of a four-game series with the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday afternoon, allowing five extra-base hits in a 4-2 defeat.
Byron Buxton got the Twins off to a fast start, doubling off Martin Perez to fuel a two-run first inning. With a sacrifice fly from Jorge Polanco and an RBI ground out from Luis Arraez, the Twins had an early 2-0 lead.
But with Nelson Cruz out of the lineup with a non-COVID illness, the first inning was the Twins’ only offensive threat of the game.
The Red Sox took advantage to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run from Hunter Renfroe and an RBI double from Bobby Dalbec.
Dalbec broke the tie in the top of the eighth inning with an RBI double off Randy Dobnak. Rafael Devers added a solo home run in the top of the ninth and Matt Barnes closed out the Twins with a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth to hand Minnesota its third straight loss.
After Monday’s game was postponed in the aftermath of the Daunte Wright shooting, the Twins (5-5) will play a straight doubleheader with the Red Sox on Wednesday. The first pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
