The Twins had a golden opportunity to win the series against the Red Sox on Wednesday night. Jose Berrios was on the mound and the offense was coming off another six-run, two-bomba performance on Tuesday.

Alas, Berrios stumbled yet again and the offense was handcuffed by Eduardo Rodriguez for seven innings as Boston held the Twins at arm’s length.

Berrios gave up a pair of home runs to Mookie Betts but was otherwise decent in this one. One was a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the first inning, and the others was a damaging three-run shot in the second inning, giving the Red Sox a 4-0 lead.

Rodriguez struck out the side in the first inning, but the Twins had at least one runner on base in every inning after that. But the Red Sox starter danced around trouble all night, shutting the Twins out through seven innings while striking out eight and giving up just five hits.

Minnesota finally broke through in the top of the eighth inning. Already trailing by a tally of 6-0, Eddie Rosario clubbed a two-run homer into right-center to draw the Twins a bit closer.

The visitors also threatened in the ninth inning. After a pinch-hit walk from Mitch Garver and a walk by Luis Arraez, who had entered the game for Jorge Polanco in the previous inning, Nelson Cruz stepped to the plate with the tying run in the on-deck circle. But Cruz bounced into a 1-4-3 double-play, and that was that.

Notes

• After Berrios left the game in the sixth inning with a pair of runners on base and nobody out, Ryne Harper coaxed a groundout on two pitches and Cody Stashak gave up an RBI single before getting the final two outs. He also pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
• Top pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol came into the game in the bottom of the eighth inning and walked the first batter he faced on five pitches. But then he induced a pair of soft-hit outs before snaring a hard liner hit right back at the mound by Mookie Betts to get out of the inning.
• Max Kepler appeared to do something to his chest or shoulder on a swing late in the game. After coming out to warm up for the bottom of the frame, he was pulled in favor of Ian Miller, who made his major league debut but did not make a plate appearance. The Kepler injury didn’t appear to be all too serious, but the Twins are handling any potential injury with an abundance of caution.

Studs

• Miguel Sano: 2-for-3, BB
• Eddie Rosario: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
• C.J. Cron: 2-for-3, B

Duds

• Jose Berrios: 5 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, 6 K, 3 BB
• Jorge Polanco: 0-for-4, 2 K
• Jake Cave: 0-for-4, 2 K