In a late lineup change that proved fortuitous, Christian Arroyo delivered a career-best performance, racking up five hits and driving in four runs to propel the Boston Red Sox to a 10-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Kutter Crawford provided a solid foundation, pitching five scoreless innings for the surging Red Sox.
The offensive fireworks began in the fourth inning with back-to-back solo home runs by Adam Duvall and Arroyo. Masataka Yoshida joined the party with a two-run blast in the eighth. Arroyo's contributions weren't limited to home runs, as he also delivered a crucial three-run double during Boston's five-run seventh inning. This offensive outburst extends the Red Sox's impressive run, having outscored opponents 50-18 during their current six-game winning streak.
Arroyo, initially not in the starting lineup, stepped in when shortstop Pablo Reyes was scratched due to abdominal soreness. Reflecting on his unexpected opportunity and career-high five-hit game, Arroyo expressed a mixture of surprise and elation, acknowledging the significance of achieving such a feat on baseball's biggest stage.
Manager Alex Cora praised Arroyo's preparedness and ability to contribute meaningfully, emphasizing his disciplined approach at the plate and knack for making solid contact.
While Crawford's performance on the mound provided stability, Corey Kluber secured his first career save, despite allowing four runs on three home runs in the final three innings. On the other side, Twins starter Bailey Ober struggled, giving up three runs on eight hits in six innings. The loss marked Minnesota's fifth in six games, pushing them to a season-low two games below .500 and shrinking their lead in the AL Central.
Ober and Twins manager Rocco Baldelli expressed frustration with the team's recent struggles, acknowledging the need for improvement and a renewed focus on winning. Byron Buxton, who broke a prolonged hitless streak with a single earlier in the game, added a two-run homer in the eighth, while Royce Lewis and Max Kepler each contributed solo home runs in the ninth.
Cora emphasized the importance of Crawford utilizing his diverse pitch repertoire effectively, likening it to a buffet of options that shouldn't be overthought. Regarding injuries, Cora announced that Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck will undergo surgery for a facial fracture, with hopes of returning later in the season. Baldelli addressed questions about Buxton's potential return to the outfield, stating that the oft-injured star is currently not physically capable of playing in the field.
The four-game series continues Wednesday with a pitching matchup featuring Sonny Gray for the Twins and Garrett Whitlock for the Red Sox. This will be Gray's first start since a visible disagreement with Baldelli during a previous outing.
