Verdugo, Bogaerts homer as Red Sox blank Twins
BOSTON — Alex Verdugo and Xander Bogaerts each hit two-run home runs, Tanner Houck held the Twins scoreless over five-plus innings, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 4-0 on Saturday. Houck (1-0) was solid, allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out four. Matt Straham got the next three outs and Garrett Whitlock gave up just two hits while retiring the final seven.
The Twins left six runners on base.
Minnesota starter Sonny Gray (O-1) allowed a homer to Verdugo in the second inning before being pulled two batters later with right hamstring tightness. Gray tossed just 31 pitches, with a walk and one strikeout.
Josh Winder went 5 1⁄3 innings in relief, yielding two runs off four hits, a walk and Bogaerts’ home run while striking out two. The team said Gray is considered day-to-day.
Boston took a 2-0 lead when Verdugo drove a sinker from Gray over the short wall in center field for his third home run of the season.
Gray got Trevor Story and Bobby Dalbec to pop out, but he then summoned the training staff and after a brief conversation at the mound with head trainer Michael Salazar and manager Rocco Baldelli he exited in favor of Winder. A replay showed Gray wincing after his final pitch to Dalbec.
The Twins looked to have something going in the third after Nick Gordon and Miguel Sano got on via a walk and single to begin the inning. But Houck was able to work his way out of the jam, getting Ryan Jeffers to hit into a double play and Luis Arraez on a groundout to end the threat.
Bogaerts made the Twins pay for the missed opportunity in the bottom of the inning, belting a two-run blast over the Green Monster off Winder for his first home run of the season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: LHP Josh Taylor (lower back strain) is scheduled to begin about a five-game rehab assignment Sunday at Triple-A Worcester . ... LHP James Paxton (Tommy John rehab) tossed a bullpen session. He and LHP Chris Sale will return to the training facility in Florida when the team travels to Tampa Bay to open its series with the Rays on April 22.
UP NEXT
Twins: Rookie RHP Bailey Ober (1-0, 7.20 ERA) is coming off earning a win in his season debut against Seattle in which he allowed four runs off four hits over five innings. He had a nodecision in his only start against Boston last season, tossing five scoreless innings.
Red Sox: RHP Michael Wacha (0-0, 2.08) is 2-1 in three career starts against Minnesota, posting a 5.71 ERA. He allowed one run over 41⁄3 innings in his first outing of 2022.