Red Sox 3, Twins 0: Bats fall silent

The last time the Twins saw Nathan Eovaldi they scored 8 runs in just over two innings against him. That certainly did not happen today. Eovaldi held the Twins to just 4 hits in 7 innings, picking up 5 strikeouts along the way.

Things didn’t go nearly as smoothly for the Twins starter, Jose Berrios. The trouble started in the 1st inning when Jorge Polanco booted what should have been an inning ending double play to load the bases. Berrios was able to work out of that, however, as he got Jackie Bradley Jr. to strike out and Eduardo Nunez to pop out.

In the 2nd the Red Sox loaded the bases again, but this time they capitalized. J.D. Martinez lined a 2-out 2-run double to left field to give them the lead.

It seemed that Berrios was always under duress in this game. In the 4th inning, Andrew Benintendi doubled and J.D. Martinez drove him in with a single to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead. Berrios proceeded to get himself into, and out of, another bases loaded situation to end the inning.

Gabriel Moya relieved Berrios in the 5th inning, throwing just 1 pitch to get Benintendi to pop out.

Berrios didn’t have his best control today, and it showed in the box score: 4.2 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO.

No other runs were scored from the 5th inning on, thanks in part to Adalberto Mejia. He tossed 3 innings of 1 hit ball, while striking out 4. For the Red Sox, Matt Barnes and Craig Kimbrel finished the game off with perfect 8th and 9th innings.

The Twins lineup as a whole went 4-29, BB, 8 SO.

At least it was a pretty quick game. Just 2 hours and 42 minutes.

Studs:

Adalberto Mejia

Robbie Grossman: 1-2, BB

You, reading this.

Duds:

Jose Berrios

Brian Dozier: 0-4, SO, GIDP

Most of the rest of the lineup.

Robot Roll Call:

Have a good week, everyone!