Sox sweep Twins in DH

Win streak now at nine

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 Rodríguez (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 10-game 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.

José Berríos (2-1) surrendered four runs in 4 1/3 innings for Minnesota, giving up four hits and three walks. Berríos, 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 Berríos when Rafael Devers’ drive to center caromed off the glove of a diving Jake Cave for a double. Christian Vázquez walked and Bobby Dalbec singled before the walk to Cordero.

Tyler Duffey relieved Berríos and struck out Kiké Hernández. But Verdugo plated Vázquez, J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts walked and Devers hit a two-run single off lefthander Caleb Thielbar.

Rodríguez 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

Game 1

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

“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.”

AP Red Sox center fielder Franchy Cordero jumps to celebrate with right fielder Enrique Hernandez and center fielder Alex Verdugo after defeating the Minnesota Twins in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday in Minneapolis.