Red Sox 4, Twins 1. Twins offense stagnant

The Red Sox got to Twins starter Jose Berrios early tonight with Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia leading off with two singles to start the bottom of the first. Betts would come in to score on a double play ball and Mitch Moreland followed with a solo home run shot to give the Sox an early 2-0 lead.

The Twins cut the lead in half in the 3rd on a solo home run by catcher Chris Gimenez. From there on the Twins offense came up short against Chris Sale and the Red Sox bullpen with the only real scoring opportunity coming in the 6th with 2 runners on and nobody out in which Jorge Polonco failed to lay down a bunt eventually striking out and Gimenez hitting into a double play to end the threat.

Berrios did seem to settle into a grove until giving up a couple singles in the 7th. Matt Belisle was then called in to relieve Berrios but a first pitch single to Pedroia would make it a 3-1 ballgame. One more run would come in on a sac-fly by Moreland off of Buddy Boshers to bring the score to 4- 1.

Alan Busenwitz pitched a 1,2,3 8th inning for the Twins as a bright spot for the Twins bullpen.

Craig Kimbrel would come in for the Sox and close things down as he usually does as the Red Sox take game 1 of the series 4-1 .

Studs:

Chris Gimenez - Solo HR

Alan Busenwitz - Scoreless 8th

Duds:

Twins offense (minus Gimenez) 4 Hits, 2 BB, 13K

Matt Belisle

NSA Frequent Commenters Report

Have a great week everybody!