Red Sox 11, Twins 2: Mike Aviles had four hits and scored three times and David Ortiz homered and drove in three runs as visiting Boston won its second straight contest after a five-game losing skid.
Adrian Gonzalez and Aviles drove in two runs apiece and Josh Beckett (2-2) tossed six solid innings for the Red Sox, who have defeated Minnesota in nine of their last 11 contests.
After Boston scratched for three runs in the first inning, Ortiz gave Boston a 5-1 lead with a towering two-run shot off Nick Blackburn (0-2) in the third. The homer was Ortiz's third of the season and first off Blackburn.
Aviles belted a solo shot and Gonzalez added the first of his two run-scoring hits in the fourth as the Red Sox rolled to victory.
Beckett overcame three first-inning walks to improve to 4-1 in his career versus the Twins.
Josh Willingham ripped an RBI double and Justin Morneau had a bases-loaded walk for the Twins, who have dropped four straight games.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Aviles' homer was his third of the season. ... Blackburn permitted five runs on eight hits in three innings. Matt Maloney replaced Blackburn and recorded the same numbers - although the former lasted only 1 2/3 innings.
Boston | Minnesota | |
Josh Beckett | Player | Nick Blackburn |
Win | W/L | Loss |
6.0 | IP | 3.0 |
5 | Strikeouts | 2 |
5 | Hits | 8 |
3.00 | ERA | 15.00 |
Boston | Minnesota | |
Mike Aviles | Player | Josh Willingham |
4 | Hits | 2 |
2 | RBI | 1 |
1 | HR | 0 |
9 | TB | 4 |
.800 | Avg | 1.000 |