Red Sox

Boston managed 20 strikeouts, setting a club record, and left 17 runners on base.

By Ken Powtak, Associated Press

September 21, 2024 | 00:30

BOSTON (AP) — Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner both had RBI singles in the 12th inning and the Minnesota Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 on Friday night.

With only their sixth win in their last 17 games, the Twins moved one game ahead of Detroit, who lost 8-1 to the Baltimore Orioles, for the third and final wild card spot in the American League. The Twins have the tiebreaker over the Tigers.

Trevor Story had an RBI single for the Red Sox, who are 7-14 in their last 21 games and are five games behind the Twins with eight games remaining. They also trail the Tigers and Seattle.

Red Sox rookie right-hander Richard Fitts became the first in club history — and only the second in the major leagues since 1901 — to not allow an earned run in his first three major league appearances of five innings or more. He allowed five hits with three strikeouts and one walk in five shutout innings.

Cincinnati left-hander Andrew Abbott is the other pitcher to begin his career this way, and he also did not allow a single earned run in his first three starts last season.

With runners on first and third base and no outs, Larnach hit a high drive that bounced off the top of the glove of 6-foot-6 Cooper Criswell (6-5) for the leadoff run. Wallner hit a single through a drawn-in infield and Willi Castro added a sacrifice fly.

Scott Blewett (1-0) took the win in the 11th inning and Griffin Jax got the last three outs for his 10th save despite allowing one run.

“It was incredibly impressive and courageous, I can’t think of any words for it,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. “You can feel it when you watch the game. We felt it in the dugout the whole game. It was a very intense, good game.”

The Red Sox had 20 strikeouts, setting a club record, and left 17 runners on base. The Twins left 15 on base.

“There were a lot of opportunities,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. ​​”We didn’t take advantage of them.”

Both teams left two runners on base in the 10th and 11th innings.

“It’s good to be back on the winning track,” said reliever Cole Sands, who had three strikeouts in one inning after allowing a leadoff double. “All the guys in the bullpen did their job.”

The Twins (81-73) are just 11-20 since being 17 games over .500 on Aug. 17.

Fitts, 24, was acquired in an offseason trade along with right-hander Greg Weissert and another minor league pitcher from the rival Yankees for outfielder Alex Verdugo.

Story’s single gave Boston a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning against Minnesota starter David Festa.

The Twins tied the game in the seventh inning when Byron Buxton scored from third base on a fielder’s choice play by Carlos Correa to Chris Martin when a ground ball was not hit hard enough for a double play that ended the inning.

Boston loaded the bases in the eighth inning against Jhoan Duran when Ceddanne Rafaela hit a soft line drive to second base.

In his final inning, Fitts escaped a difficult situation in the first and third innings with one out by getting Jose Miranda to win on a fielder’s decision before Carlos Santana flew out to right.

Festa allowed just one run and four hits in five innings, striking out six times and walking three.

TRAINING ROOM

Red Sox: 3B Rafael Devers left in extra innings. His shoulder has been bothering him for months. After the game, Cora said, “That’s probably it for him,” and that he will get an MRI of his right shoulder on Saturday. … OF Rob Refsnyder was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right forearm. … LF Jarren Duran hit the Green Monster with his right arm and shoulder while grabbing the ball with a leaping catch and was quickly examined by a team trainer but remained in the game.

Next

Twins RHP Pablo López (15-8, 3.84 ERA) is scheduled to face Red Sox RHP Kutter Crawford (8-15, 4.19) on Saturday.