The Boston Red Sox delivered a decisive performance against the Minnesota Twins, winning 9-2 at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sunday. This victory snapped the Twins' impressive 12-game winning streak, bringing an end to one of their longest runs this season.
Prior to facing the Twins for the third consecutive game, the Red Sox experienced a challenging stretch, suffering three straight losses, two of which were against the Twins. Notably, during their last three victories, the team struggled at the plate, failing to hit a single home run.
The turning point came when Ceddanne Rafaela broke the home run drought by hitting a two-run homer in the fifth inning, following a full count from Twins' pitcher Joe Ryan. This hit gave the Red Sox a 3-1 lead and shifted the momentum in their favor.
Rafaela expressed his focus during the game, stating, \"I was just focusing to hit the ball and then good things happen.\" The Red Sox further extended their lead in the ninth inning when Rafael Devers secured another two runs with his home run. Contributions from Vaughn Grissom and Dominic Smith, each adding two runs, pushed the final score to 9-2.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora reflected on the win, saying, \"Losing two out of three here [stinks], but winning this one is very gratifying. It took a total team effort.\" The victory not only ends the Twins' streak but also demonstrates the resilience and teamwork of the Red Sox as they aim to climb the standings.
Reference(s):
Red Sox end Twins' second-longest winning streak of 12 games
cgtn.com
