Red Sox beat Twins for twinbill sweep, ninth straight win

MINNEAPOLIS — Alex Verdugo had three hits, including a two-run single in a six-run fifth inning, and the Boston Red Sox extended their winning streak to nine games, beating the Minnesota Twins 7-1 to sweep Wednesday’s doubleheader.

Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0) pitched five innings and gave up one run on five hits for Boston, which has come from behind in six of its nine wins this season after opening the year with three straight losses. The Red Sox have their longest winning streak since a 10game run in 2018, a season that ended with a World Series title.

Verdugo had five hits in the doubleheader and capped the day with his second homer of the season in the seventh inning. The Red Sox won the first game 3-2.

Jose Berrios (2-1) surrendered four runs in 4 1⁄3 innings for Minnesota, giving up four hits and three walks. Berrios, who retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, walked Franchy Cordero with the bases loaded for the first run of the fifth before departing.

The Twins have lost five straight.

The fifth unraveled quickly for Berrios when Rafael Devers’ drive to center caromed off the glove of a diving Jake Cave for a double. Christian Vazquez walked and Bobby Dalbec singled before the walk to Cordero.

Tyler Duffey relieved Berrios and struck out Kike Hernandez. But Verdugo plated Vazquez, J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts walked and Devers hit a two-run single off left-hander Caleb Thielbar.

Rodriguez settled in after allowing Minnesota to score a run in the first. He gave up three hits in the first but just three baserunners through his final four innings.

The doubleheader was scheduled after Monday’s game was postponed following the fatal police shooting of a Black man in a nearby suburb.

FIRST GAME

Nathan Eovaldi (2-1) gave up two runs on five hits in five innings for the Red Sox. Matt Barnes earned his second save.

The Red Sox, who finished last in the AL East in 2020, are the first team since the 1991 Seattle Mariners to lose at least three games to start the season and follow that by winning at least seven straight, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“For me, it’s the pitching,” Eovaldi said of the difference from last season. “I like our team a lot. I like where we’re at. I feel like at any point in the ballgame, we’re going to be able to take the lead, put up runs and keep us there.”

Kenta Maeda (1-1) was undone by Minnesota’s defense in the second inning, including his own throwing error that allowed a run to score. He pitched 4 1⁄3 innings and gave up three runs — two earned — on seven hits and two walks.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: RHP Bryan Mata, one of the team’s top pitching prospects, underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Tuesday. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in California.

UP NEXT

Michael Pineda (1-0, 1.64 ERA) will start the final game of the series for Minnesota on Thursday. Boston counters with Garrett Richards (0-1, 10.29).