Kepler, Twins end Red Sox’s streak
MINNEAPOLIS — Max Kepler’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Minnesota a 4-3 victory Thursday over Boston — stopping a five-game losing streak for the Twins and breaking a nine-game winning string for the Red Sox.
The Red Sox, who tied it in the eighth on Alex Verdugo’s three-run double, were on their longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 2018, the season they won the World Series.
The Twins avoided matching their longest losing streak in three years under manager Rocco Baldelli, a six-game slide from July 31-Aug. 5, 2020.
Luis Arraez opened the Minnesota ninth with his fourth hit, a single off Adam Ottavino (1-1), and Jorge Polanco was hit by a pitch. Nelson Cruz, on a 10-game hitting streak, then struck out.
Kepler came through with his hit to shallow center, helping the Twins avoid what would’ve been their first four-game sweep by the Red Sox in 21 years.
MARINERS SWEEP ORIOLES: J.P. Crawford hit a go-ahead double with two outs in the sixth inning, Marco Gonzales overcame a rough start for his first victory of the season, and Seattle won 4-2 at Baltimore in a doubleheader opener. In the second game, Mitch Haniger became the first Seattle player to homer out of the leadoff spot in both ends of a doubleheader, hitting a tiebreaking drive that sealed Seattle’s 2-1victory.
RANGERS 6, RAYS 4 (10): Adolis Garcia’s first major league homer, a two-run shot in the 10th inning, gave Texas a victory at Tampa Bay. Garcia drove a 1-2 pitch from Cody Reed (0-1) into the right-field stands.
INDIANS 4, WHITE SOX 2: Slumping Jose Ramirez connected for a go-ahead, two-run homer off Lance Lynn in the sixth inning as Cleveland bounced back from being no-hit Wednesday night to win at Chicago.
ROYALS 7, BLUE JAYS 5: Jakob Junis ran his consecutive scoreless streak to 14 innings as Kansas City staked him to a seven-run lead, and a shaky bullpen held on after giving most of it back for a win at home.
BRAVES 7, MARLINS 6: Dansby Swanson’s RBI single with the bases loaded capped a two-run rally in the ninth inning, and host Atlanta snapped a fourgame losing streak.
PADRES 8, PIRATES 3: Manny Machado hit his third home run of the season and drove in three runs, Eric Hosmer added two hits and two RBIs, and visiting San Diego jumped on Pittsburgh early.
DIAMONDBACKS 11, NATIONALS 6: Andrew Young delivered a grand slam for his first hit of the season to cap a 10-run outburst in just two innings against starter Patrick Corbin as Arizona won at Washington.
ATHLETICS 8, TIGERS 4: Stephen Piscotty and Matt Olson homered to back Sean Manaea’s first victory of the season as host Oakland won their fifth straight.
DODGERS 7, ROCKIES 5: Max Muncy’s homer to right-center kicked off a four-run seventh inning that put Los Angeles up for good against visiting Colorado.