Nick Blackburn’s pitching helps Minnesota Twins defeat Boston Red Sox 5-2 - MLB Update
Minnesota Twins’ starter, Nick Blackburn had a tremendous day with the ball as he did not give any earned run and threw just over six innings with an ERA of 4.36 in the Twins’ 5-2 win against the Boston Red Sox at Target Field, Minnesota on August 10.
Twins got off to a well start as they added one run to their score-card in first inning and took a 1-0 lead. Joe Mauer posted a single run when Jim Thome drove a single-run shot towards centre-field. Michael Cuddyer occupied third base to end the first inning.
Then, the pitchers contributed more than batters as they were on top from second to fifth inning of the game.
During third inning, Mike Aviles doubled off left-field while Marco Scutaro fouled out to catcher and at first base, Josh Reddick grounded out. Twins were also unable to post runs during fourth inning as Cuddyer, Thome and Danny Valencia each were grounded
out towards third base without contributing even a single run.
Blackburn surrendered just one run, two walks and six hits in his respective inning pitched. He struck-out four batters on his 108 pitches and did not give away any home-run.
Mauer hit a ground rule double towards left-field and Ben Revere scored a single run to give the Twins a 2-0 lead in sixth inning. Red Sox’ batters broke their silence during seventh inning and added a single run to curtail their lead 2-1. Aviles contributed
first run for Red Sox when Scutaro drove a single-run shot to left-field and Jacoby Ellsbury occupied second base to end the seventh inning.
At the top of eighth inning, Red Sox’ designated hitter David Ortiz hit a solo homer (418 feet) towards centre-field to tie the game but Twins exploded three runs at the bottom of eighth inning to raise their lead 5-2. Thome doubled to deep left-field and
Mauer added a single run. Jason Repko scored second run when Valencia drove towards left-field.
Twins’ manager Ron Gardenhire said, “It was the kind of effort he needed and the kind of effort we needed.”
The third or final run for the Twins was taken by Valencia when Tsuyoshi Nishioka singled off centre-field and Delmon Young was thrown out at home plate. However, the Twins avoided their sweep against the Red Sox in a three-game series and ended it 2-1.
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