Rafael Devers hit a game tying leadoff homer in the bottom of the ninth, and Mookie Betts did the same in the bottom of the 10th inning Friday night as the Boston Red Sox walked off over the Minnesota Twins 4-3 at Fenway Park. The win breaks a rare two game losing streak.
Behind a solid six inning start from Chris Sale who gets a no decision, Jackie Bradley Jr had staked Boston to a 2-0 lead with a two run homer to left in the bottom of the fifth. After Sale exited, Minnesota got a run back in the top of the seventh on an error by second baseman Eduardo Nunez to make it 2-1. Craig Kimbrel came into the game with two outs in the eighth to try for a four out save, but in the ninth allowed two walks. With two outs in that ninth inning, Eddie Rosario hit one off the monster in left for a two run double to give the Twins their first and only lead of the night at 3-2.
That was brief however as Devers, leading off the home half of the ninth, lined a 2-1 pitch from Minnesota closer Fernando Rodney over the right center field fence and into the Sox bullpen to tie it. Tyler Thornburg (1-0) got the win by setting down the Twins in order in the 10th. Betts took Twins losing reliever Matt Belisle (1-1) into the last row of the monster seats on the second pitch of the bottom of the 10th for Bostons 72nd win (72-33). For Betts, it was his first career walk off homer. Bradley Jr and Nunez had two hits a piece on the night.
Sale in his six innings of work gave up no runs, three hits, walked two, and struck out 10. Twins starter Lance Lynn also pitched well in what was also a no decision allowing two runs, six hits, with one walk, and three strikeouts in his six inning effort. In his last six starts Sale has only allowed one run, 21 hits, six walks, with 67 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched with an incredible 0.23 ERA. He also has pitched 63 straight innings without allowing a home run. He becomes the only pitcher in the 107 year history of Fenway Park to allow no runs and have 10 or more strikeouts in three consecutive starts in the historic venue.
Boston sends 12 game winner Rick Porcello to the mound in game three of the series Saturday night at 7:10. Minnesota counters with righty Jake Odorizzi.
