Game 40: Red Sox at Twins - Afternoon tilt on tap as Sox go for roadtrip win
Contributing Writer
They took two-of-three in Texas and have split the first two in Minnesota. Today, the Boston Red Sox look to win their fourth straight series (also beat Cincinnati and Oakland in home series).
David Ortiz has been on a tear, with four homers in the past two games in the Twin Cities, the place he first called home. Ortiz is 7-for-10 in the series with four homers, a double five runs scored and six RBI. Perhaps Ortiz, the 2010 Home Run Derby Champion, should be in the Derby this summer.
Clay Buchholz gets the ball for the rubber game of the series. He's 2-3 with a 6.44 ERA. After stringing together a couple nice outings, Buchholz faltered in his last start in Texas, giving up six runs on 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Here is the Red Sox (20-19) lineup for today's game (first pitch - 1:10 pm ET):
1) Pedroia, 2B
2) Bogaerts, SS
3) Ortiz, DH
4) Napoli, 1B
5) Gomes, RF
6) Carp, LF
7) Ross, C
8) Middlebrooks, 3B
9) Bradley Jr., CF
Buchholz, P
On the mound for the Twins (18-20) is Phil Hughes. The former Yankee is 4-1 with a 3.92 ERA. He's won each of his last four starts and has allowed a total of six earned runs over that span. He had allowed four earned runs in each of his previous three starts.
This and that
Mike Napoli has reached base 33 straight games, a career-high and longest active streak in MLB ... Ortiz is hitting .528 with nine home runs and 22 RBI in 13 games at Target Field ... As a team, the Red Sox are 10-4 at Target Field since it's opening.
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