MINNEAPOLIS – Max Kepler’s single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Minnesota a 4-3 win over Boston on Thursday, cutting a five-game losing streak for the Twins and ruining the run of nine wins for the Red Sox.
Boston, who had tied the board in the eighth thanks to a three-run double by Alex Botxí, saw their longest triumphant streak broken since they chained 10 wins in 2018, the campaign in which they won the World Series.
The Twins avoided their worst streak in three years under driver Rocco Baldelli.
Venezuelan Luis Arráez opened the ninth with his ninth hit of the afternoon, a single against Adam Ottavino (1-1). Jorge Polanco wins a free kick. Nelson Cruz, immersed in a streak of 10 games in a row giving a hit, proceeded to strike.
But Kepler responded with his single in the center field short, and the Twins avoided their first four-game sweep against Boston in 21 years.
The Dominican Alex Colomé (1-1) hung zero in the ninth to take the win.
For the Red Sox, the Mexican Executioner 4-1, 3 driven. The Puerto Ricans Kike Hernández 3-1 and Christian Vázquez 4-0. Dominicans Rafael Devers and Franchy Be, both 4-0
For the Twins, the Venezuelans Arráez 5-4, one scored and two towed; and Williams Astudillo 3-0. Dominicans Nelson Cross 5-1; Jorge Polanco 3-0; and Miguel healed 2-1, one scored and one towed.