BOSTON: It was an unexpected night from Minnesota’s usually anemic offense.
Pedro Florimon had a solo homer and a two-run double in the Twins’ season-high, seven-run second inning that carried them to a 15-8 rout of the Boston Red Sox yesterday.
Entering the day with the American League’s second-fewest hits and third-fewest runs, the Twins didn’t have any pregame batting practice due to some showers at Fenway Park. Then they went out and compiled a season high in runs and hits (20).
“We’ll be asking for a little BP rain tomorrow,” joked Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.
“It was a crazy night. The ball was flying early. Both pitchers, their young guy, we didn’t let him breathe, and they did that to our pitcher, too.”
Ryan Doumit had a two-run homer, Oswald Arcia went 4 for 5 with three singles and a double, and Trevor Flouffe drove in three of the Twins’ runs.
Florimon had a career-best three RBIs. “It felt good,” he said, breaking into a smile as he was leaving the clubhouse. “I feel like I’m going pretty good.”
David Ortiz went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts and three groundouts to snap his 27-game hitting streak, dating to last season.
Ortiz had hit safely in his first 15 games this season, giving him Boston’s longest streak since Manny Ramirez also hit in 27 straight in 2006.
Jonny Gomes hit his fourth career grand slam - first with the Red Sox - and drove in five runs. Shane Victorino added a solo homer for Boston, which lost for the fifth time in six games.
In the first two innings, the teams combined for 17 runs and 10 extra-base hits, chasing both starting pitchers as the Twins held an 11-6 edge after posting their big second.Agencies
