Twins 7, Red Sox 4: Max Kepler walks it off in the 10th with first homerun

The Twins were able to manufacture their first two runs in the game. Joe Mauer drove in Eduardo Nunez in the 1st, and Byron Buxton drove in the other Eduardo in the 2nd, both came on ground-outs.

The Red Sox finally got one back off of Pat Dean in the 5th on a home run by Chris Young (6).

The Twins got two back in the bottom of the 6th by taking advantage of an error by Xander Bogaerts. With runners on 1st and 3rd, Max Kepler grounded to short. Bogaerts' throw to first was in the dirt and not corralled by Hanley Ramirez, allowing Robbie Grossman to score. Eduardo Escobar followed that with a single, scoring Mauer and bringing the score to 4-1 Twins.

Not to be outdone, the Twins committed their own error in the 8th. A walk and two singles loaded the bases against Brandon Kintzler. Then Xander Bogaerts hit a grounder to Eduardo Nunez who tried to go to 2nd but instead threw it to right field. By the end of the madness, two Boston runners would score, and there would be runners on the corners with nobody out, with David Ortiz coming up to bat.

Fernando Abad relieved Kintzler, and was able to get Ortiz to hit into a double play. The tying run did score, but the Twins were happy to trade that for two outs. Jackie Bradley struck out to end the inning and the threat. The Twins were only able to muster a walk in the bottom of the 8th, so, we head to the 9th.

Abad came out for the 9th, and forced another GIDP on his way to a scoreless inning, but the Twins couldn't do anything in the bottom half.

Michael Tonkin came in for the 10th, and struck out two (including Ortiz), keeping the game tied going into the bottom of the 10th.

Joe Mauer lead off with a walk against new Boston pitcher Matt Barnes. Cleanup hitter Trevor Plouffe moved him to 2nd on a sac bunt. Then Dozier nearly won the game but his line drive was deflected off the glove of Bogaerts and Mauer was forced to hold at 3rd. In dramatic fashion, Max Kepler ended the game with a walk off 3 run blast to center, the first HR of his career. Final score is the Twins 7 and the Red Sox 4.

WP: Michael Tonkin

LP: Mitch Barnes

Studs: Max Kepler (duh), Pat "dat" Dean, Fernando Abad (Not abad outing. I'm sorry, this is required.)

Duds: No one, the Twins won!

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