EditorsNote: adds Price’s innings total in fourth graf
Max Kepler and Robbie Grossman both homered off Boston left-hander David Price to supplement five innings of one-run ball from Minnesota starter Lance Lynn as the host Twins beat the Red Sox 4-1 on Wednesday night.
Kepler’s two-run blast in the fourth broke a 1-all tie after Grossman’s solo shot led off the bottom of the first. Lynn (5-5) walked five batters but allowed only an unearned run on three hits with two strikeouts for the Twins, who have won four of five.
Having won Tuesday’s series opener 6-2, Minnesota secured back-to-back series victories after taking two of three games at Cleveland.
Price (8-5) was on the hook despite his quality start, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out three in six innings. The Boston southpaw had won four straight starts and six of his last seven coming in.
Jackie Bradley Jr. reached on an error in the second to produce the Red Sox’s only run.
Boston has dropped four of its last five.
Grossman took Price deep to center field on his fifth pitch to put Minnesota up 1-0.
Twins first baseman Logan Morrison snagged Bradley’s grounder with two outs in the second, but his toss to Lynn covering the bag was off target for a throwing error that allowed Mitch Moreland to score from second.
With Mookie Betts up and runners on the corners, the Red Sox squandered a chance to take the lead when Brock Holt was picked off and caught stealing home for the final out of the visiting second.
Kepler’s blast to right with Brian Dozier aboard after a leadoff double broke the tie. Dozier doubled again in the eighth to drive in an insurance run.
After shutting the door in a non-save situation Tuesday, Minnesota closer Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth again for his 16th save.
Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello (8-3, 3.70 ERA) opposes Twins righty Kyle Gibson (2-4, 3.27) in Thursday’s series finale.
—Field Level Media