The Minnesota Twins got solid pitching and came through with big offensive innings on Thursday afternoon and the result was an 8-0 win over the Boston Red Sox.
The Twins won two of three in the first series in their new ballpark and are 7-3 for the season.
With Francisco Liriano (1-0) holding the Red Sox to four hits and striking out eight in seven innings, the Twins helped his cause with a three-run fifth, a two-run sixth and a two-run seventh.
Michael Cuddyer drove in three runs with a sacrifice fly in the fifth and a two-run homer in the seventh. Denard Span had RBI doubles in the fifth and sixth.
The Red Sox committed three errors, went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight baserunners. Dustin Pedroia was the lone bright spot, going 3-for-4.
Boston starter Tim Wakefield (0-1) struggled, giving up six runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
J.J. Hardy and Justin Mornaeau, who was 3-for-5, each had an RBI single and Nick Punto was 3-for-4 with two runs scored for Minnesota.
Boston | Minnesota | |
Tim Wakefield | Player | Francisco Liriano |
Loss | W/L | Win |
5.1 | IP | 7.0 |
2 | Strikeouts | 8 |
10 | Hits | 4 |
8.44 | ERA | 0.00 |
Boston | Minnesota | |
Dustin Pedroia | Player | Nick Punto |
3 | Hits | 3 |
0 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
3 | TB | 5 |
.750 | Avg | .750 |