SB Nation Boston - Red Sox 6, Twins 4: Boston Survives Late Rally, Avoids Minnesota Sweephttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2012-08-06T10:23:46-04:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/29801012012-08-06T10:23:46-04:002012-08-06T10:23:46-04:00David Ortiz Injury Update: Slugger May Need An Injection
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> season seems to be slipping away faster than sand through an open hand.</p>
<p>Part of the reason is the lost of their lone All-Star <span>David Ortiz</span>, who has been sidelined since July 16 with a strained right Achilles tendon. Ortiz was eligible to come off of the disabled list on Aug 1, but hasn't been able to get on the field due to continued soreness.</p>
<p>On Sunday, Big Papi expressed his frustration,<a href="http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/8237357/boston-red-sox-david-ortiz-pain-get-injection"> according to ESPN.com</a>.</p>
<p>"I might get injected tomorrow," he said. "I'm thinking about it. Not cortisone or anything like that, I don't know. I have to talk to the doctor. I've got to get more information. I've got to talk to the doctor because I'm still very sore."</p>
<p>Ortiz doesn't think the problem will become more an issue. However, he's concerned about the slow recovery sped thus far.</p>
<p>"Am I worried? Of course. I haven't played in the last three weeks and I still have pain. I'm not worried about getting worse, because I know I'm getting better, but the pain won't go away. I don't know if that's part of the healing process, I don't know. Some days I feel better, and I think the next day is going to be even better, but the next day I come back and continue to be sore. After I work out and do things, I get very sore, too."</p>
<p>Once Ortiz starts to feel better, he'll go through a few workouts and then finally be in the lineup once again.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Red Sox, please be sure to check out our blog <a href="http://overthemonster.com">Over The Monster</a> and <a href="http://boston.sbnation.com">SB Nation Boston</a> for all the latest news and updates.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/8/6/3223156/david-ortiz-injury-update-red-soxMatt Verderame2012-08-05T16:59:19-04:002012-08-05T16:59:19-04:00Red Sox Vs. Twins Final Score: Sox Survive Late Twins Rally, Avoid Sweep With 6-4 Win
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<p>The Red Sox finally took a 6-4 win off the Minnesota Twins Sunday afternoon as Franklin Morales threw six solid innings in his return to the rotation.</p>
<p>It was a slow start for both sides in the first couple of innings, though Franklin Morales had to throw a good few pitches to escape the first. Nick Blackburn, meanwhile, worked around singles from Carl Crawford in the first and Will Middlebrooks in the second.</p>
<p>The Sox would break the scoreless tie in the third, as Mike Aviles and Jacoby Ellsbury led off the inning with a single and double respectively, scoring on a ground ball out from Carl Crawford and single from Dustin Pedroia.</p>
<p>The Twins would get one back in the fifth, scoring as Alexi Casilla scored on a sacrifice fly after a leadoff walk, but the Sox responded loudly in the bottom half of the inning. After another Carl Crawford base hit, Adrian Gonzalez took an outside fastball and went with it, hitting an opposite-field shot over the Monster that made it 4-1, Red Sox.</p>
<p>Boston was able to add a pair of runs between the seventh and eighth on sacrifice flies that must, at the time, have seemed like luxuries. Ultimately, though, they'd need the 6-1 lead they were given heading into the ninth. With Craig Breslow inexplicably replaced by Vicente Padilla in the ninth after recording just the last out in the eighth, the Twins quickly rallied. A leadoff homer from Josh Willingham made it 6-2, and after a walk to Justin Morneau, Ryan Doumit got ahead 3-0. Padilla would grove the next three pitches over the plate, the first two being taken for strikes, the third being launched deep to right for a two-run shot.</p>
<p>Thankfully, Alfredo Aceves was up to the task of a legitimate save this time around. Now working with just a two-run lead, Aceves recorded three runs where Vicente Padilla could record none, leaving the Sox 6-4 winners and saving them from the embarrassment of a sweep.</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 8.5.2012 </span> </th> <th> 1 </th> <th> 2 </th> <th> 3 </th> <th> 4 </th> <th> 5 </th> <th> 6 </th> <th> 7 </th> <th> 8 </th> <th> 9 </th> <th>R</th>
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<tbody>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> </span></td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>3</td>
<td class="highlight">4</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> </span></td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>X</td>
<td class="highlight">6</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For more on the Red Sox, please be sure to check out our blog <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #193270; font-weight: bold;" href="http://overthemonster.com/">Over The Monster</a> and <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #193270; font-weight: bold;" href="http://boston.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Boston</a> for all the latest news and updates.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/8/5/3221938/red-sox-vs-twins-final-score-sox-survive-late-twins-rally-avoid-sweepBenjamin Buchanan2012-08-05T14:47:41-04:002012-08-05T14:47:41-04:00 Danny Valencia Traded: Red Sox Acquire 3rd Baseman From Twins
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> decided to not only play on the field Sunday but also wheel-and-deal off it. During the finale of a three-game series, the <a href="https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/232179176776544256">two teams conducted a trade</a> which will send third baseman <span>Danny Valencia</span> to Boston in exchange for minor-league outfielder Jeremias Pineda.</p>
<p>Valencia, who will be optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket, is 27 years old and has played sparingly over his three seasons with the Twins. He is a career .260 hitter. In 2010, Valencia finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. On Friday, Valencia went 0-for-4 against the Red Sox.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Pineda is a 21-year-old prospect who was playing for the Red Sox's Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.</p>
<p>The move puts the Red Sox's 40-man roster at 40.</p>
<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For more on the Red Sox, please be sure to check out our blog <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #193270; font-weight: bold;" href="http://overthemonster.com/">Over The Monster</a> and <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #193270; font-weight: bold;" href="http://boston.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Boston</a> for all the latest news and updates.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/8/5/3221712/danny-valencia-traded-boston-red-sox-minnesota-twins-jeremias-pinedaJared Smith2012-08-05T14:06:48-04:002012-08-05T14:06:48-04:00Red Sox Vs. Twins Live Blog: Inning By Inning Update For Game 4
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<p>Can the Red Sox dodge an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the Twins? We'll keep you up-to-date on all the action as it goes down in Fenway Park.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 6, Twins 1, End 8th -- </b>The Sox add another insurance run as Jacoby Ellsbury hits a bullet of a sacrifice fly to center, bringing Ryan Kalish home from third after a leadoff double and stolen base.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 5, Twins 1, Mid 8th -- </b>Mark Melancon gives up a leadoff double to Jamey Carroll before striking out Ben Revere and getting a pop-up from Darin Mastroianni. Craig Breslow entered for the last out (much like he should have last night) and earned a ground ball from Joe Mauer to send the game to the bottom of the eighth.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 5, Twins 1, End 7th -- </b>Carl Crawford's third hit of the day helps the Sox add on an insurance run in the seventh, as he leads off with a single, moves to second on a Dustin Pedroia ground ball, and scores when Cody Ross singles into center. Only a great over-the-shoulder catch by Ben Revere on a long fly ball from Jarrod Saltalamacchia keeps the Twins from more trouble, as he fires back in to double up Adrian Gonzalez at second.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 4, Twins 1, Mid 7th -- </b>Mark Melancon strikes out Brian Dozier in the middle of a 1-2-3 seventh inning, leaving the Twins with just six outs to try and recover from a three-run hole.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 4, Twins 1, End 6th -- </b>Jarrod Saltalamacchia is robbed of a leadoff single by a great diving play from Alexi Casilla. Given the two hits that followed from Will Middlebrooks and Mike Aviles, Casilla can likely also be credited with saving a run.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 4, Twins 1, Mid 6th -- </b>The Sox manage to squeeze one final inning out of Franklin Morales, who retires the side in order to finish a strong day of work in his return to the rotation.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 4, Twins 1, End 5th -- </b>The Sox repay the first Minnesota run of the day with two of their own. After a lengthy battle at the plate, Carl Crawford takes a ninth-pitch changeup from Nick Blackburn and lines it past his head into center field for a one-out single. While Dustin Pedroia can't move him into scoring position, Adrian Gonzalez goes with a fastball away and goes opposite field into the Monster seats for a two-run shot that gives the Sox a nice cushion to work with.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 1, Mid 5th -- </b>A leadoff walk ends up costing Morales his first run of the game, as Alexi Casilla steals second base, moves to third on a ground ball, and then comes in to score on a sacrifice fly.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 0, End 4th -- </b>Nick Blackburn bounces back with his first 1-2-3 inning of the night against the bottom of the lineup. He'll have to face a 1-2-3 combination that's hit him pretty well to start the fifth.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 0, Mid 4th -- </b>A two-out single from Ryan Doumit costs Morales just three pitches, as he quickly gets Brian Dozier to pop out behind him to finish his fourth scoreless inning of work.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 0, End 3rd -- </b>The Sox finally break through against the mediocre Nick Blackburn in the third. A leadoff single from Mike Aviles gets the lineup turned over in the right way, and with Jacoby Ellsbury doubling to the base of the Monster behind him the Sox have runners on second and third with nobody out. A sharp ground ball to short from Carl Crawford would be enough to bring the first run in, and Adrian Gonzalez quickly made it 2-0 with a bloop to center befroe Cody Ross popped out and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a long fly ball to center to end the inning.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 0, Twins 0, Mid 3rd -- </b>Morales gets into a bit of trouble in the third, with two men reaching with one out, but a pickoff throw catches Darin Mastroianni at first, and Morales gets a ground ball from Mauer to end the inning.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 0, Twins 0, End 2nd -- </b>A two-out single up the middle and steal from Will Middlebrooks is all the Sox get in a scoreless second.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 0, Twins 0, Mid 2nd -- </b>Franklin Morales picks up his third strikeout as he ends a 1-2-3 second inning with a K of Alexi Cassila.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 0, Twins 0, End 1st -- </b>Carl Crawford gives the Sox their first hit of the game with a first-pitch line drive to center field, but Dustin Pedroia grounds out and Adrian Gonzalez hits a pop-up to keep the Sox off the board in the first.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 0, Twins 0, Mid 1st -- </b>The Twins go scoreless in the first, but they make Franklin Morales work awfully hard for his outs. After a leadoff single and stolen base from Ben Revere, Morales finds the bottom of the zone with the count full against Darin Mastroianni for strikeout number one and drops a curveball on the corner down and away to Joe Mauer for number two. Morales ends up losing Josh Willingham after getting ahead 1-2, but gets a ground ball from Justin Morneau to end things without damage.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/8/5/3221659/red-sox-vs-twins-live-blog-inning-by-inning-update-for-game-4Benjamin Buchanan2012-08-05T11:42:20-04:002012-08-05T11:42:20-04:00Red Sox Vs. Twins Lineup: Jacoby Ellsbury, Will Middlebrooks Back
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<p>The Red Sox are out to dodge a sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Twins as Franklin Morales returns to the rotation against Nick Blackburn. First pitch is at 1:35 p.m. EST with broadcasts on NESN and WEEI.</p>
<p>The Sox will have both Will Middlebrooks and Jacoby Ellsbury back in the lineup after the pair missed Saturday's game with a scheduled day off and a minor leg issue respectively. Ellsbury is back in his traditional leadoff spot, while Will Middlebrooks bats seventh and plays third.</p>
<p>Ryan Kalish will remain in the lineup despite the return of Ellsbury, playing right field while Cody Ross plays DH. This means that an injury in the outfield could be big trouble for the Sox, who aren't carrying a fifth outfielder at the moment. </p>
<p><b>Boston Red Sox (53-55)</b></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Jacoby Ellsbury, CF</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Carl Crawford, LF</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Dustin Pedroia, 2B</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Adrian Gonzalez, 1B</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Cody Ross, DH</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Will Middlebrooks, 3B</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Ryan Kalish, RF</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Mike Aviles, SS</span></li>
</ol>
<p><b>Minnesota Twins (47-60)</b></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Ben Revere, CF</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Darin Mastroianni, RF</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Joe Mauer, C</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Josh Willingham, LF</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Justin Morneau, 1B</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Ryan Doumit, DH</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Brian Dozier, SS</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Alexi Casilla, 2B</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Jamey Carroll, 3B</span></li>
</ol>
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<p class="game-title"><a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> <br> <span>@ <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> </span></p>
<p class="game-info"><span>Sunday, Aug 5, 2012, 1:35 PM EDT</span><br> Fenway Park</p>
<p class="pitchers"><span>Nick Blackburn</span> vs <span>Franklin Morales</span></p>
<p class="weather"> Partly cloudy. Winds blowing from right to left field at 15-20 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 85.</p>
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<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For more on the Red Sox, please be sure to check out our blog <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #193270; font-weight: bold;" href="http://overthemonster.com/">Over The Monster</a> and <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #193270; font-weight: bold;" href="http://boston.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Boston</a> for all the latest news and updates.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/8/5/3221454/red-sox-vs-twins-lineup-jacoby-ellsbury-will-middlebrooks-backBenjamin Buchanan2012-08-04T22:45:18-04:002012-08-04T22:45:18-04:00Red Sox Vs. Twins Final Score: Joe Mauer's Ninth Inning Homer Sends Sox To Crushing 6-4 Defeat
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<p>A strong start from Clay Buchholz and a clutch homer from Pedro Ciriaco were not enough to snap the Red Sox' losing streak, as a late meltdown from Alfredo Aceves cost them a three-run ninth and a series loss to the Minnesota Twins.</p>
<p>Living up to expectations and playing the stopper was Clay Buchholz. He's been on a great run of late, and what the Sox needed more than anything was a strong start after seeing the Twins put up 11 on them in the first two games.</p>
<p>While Buchholz would get himself in trouble in the second, allowing the first two batters of the inning to reach and then eventually loading the bases, he would strike out Darin Mastroianni for his first out and then get a diving grab from Nick Punto and a ground ball to first to keep the Twins off the board. The next two innings would pass relatively uneventfully, letting Clay enter the fifth without a run to his name.</p>
<p>The Red Sox offense, meanwhile, had given him a small cushion in the first two innings. Carl Crawford doubled home Ryan Kalish in the first after the center fielder led off the game with a leadoff walk, and then Mike Aviles had gone long in the second. Cole De Vries would settle down from there, however, keeping the Sox to just the two runs through the end of the seventh inning.</p>
<p>The Twins would finally push across a run in the fifth thanks to an errant pickoff throw to first from Buchholz--his second of the game--and a throw from Kelly Shoppach on a nubber in front of the plate that hit the runner in the back. That unearned would be all they would get off of Buchholz in seven innings of work.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Andrew Miller was up to the task of letting them tie the game in the eighth. Walking two and giving up an infield hit, Miller loaded the bases without recording an out before handing the ball off to Alfredo Aceves. The closer would come through about as well as could be hoped, escaping with just one run in on a sacrifice fly, but it tied the game all-the-same.</p>
<p>The tie would last for all of two pitches in the bottom of the inning, however, as Pedro Ciriaco pinch hit for Ryan Kalish against the left-handed Glen Perkins and added to his already impressive resume of clutch hits with a rocket over the Monster that put the Sox back up 3-2. With Cody Ross knocking home Dustin Pedroia after a hit by pitch, the Sox would grab an insurance run.</p>
<p>Those two runs, however, would not be enough for Alfredo Aceves. After starting the inning with a strikeout of Brian Dozier, Aceves allowed a double down the first base line to Alexi Casilla, and a bloop single to Jamey Carroll that put one run on the board. A long fly ball to right got Aceves his second out, but a single from Ben Revere kept the inning alive for Joe Mauer. Mauer worked the count full after a 2-2 pitch just missed away, and then gave him a fastball to hit. The result? A three-run homer over the Monster which put the Sox in a 6-4 hole they could not recover from.</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 8.4.2012 </span> </th> <th> 1 </th> <th> 2 </th> <th> 3 </th> <th> 4 </th> <th> 5 </th> <th> 6 </th> <th> 7 </th> <th> 8 </th> <th> 9 </th> <th>R</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> </span></td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>4</td>
<td class="highlight">6</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> </span></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td class="highlight">4</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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<p><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">For more on the Red Sox, please be sure to check out our blog <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #193270; font-weight: bold;" href="http://overthemonster.com/">Over The Monster</a> and <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #193270; font-weight: bold;" href="http://boston.sbnation.com/">SB Nation Boston</a> for all the latest news and updates.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/8/4/3220745/red-sox-vs-twins-final-score-joe-mauers-ninth-inning-homer-sends-soxBenjamin Buchanan2012-08-04T19:34:58-04:002012-08-04T19:34:58-04:00Red Sox Vs. Twins Live Blog: Inning By Inning Updates For Game 3
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<p>The Red Sox need Clay Buchholz to play the stopper tonight, lest they suffer an embarrassing series loss to the Twins at home. We'll keep you up to date on all the action as it goes down in Fenway Park.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 4, Twins 2, End 8th -- </b>It takes the Sox all of two pitches to get back on top in the eighth, and who else does the job but Pedro Ciriaco? Pinch hitting in place of Ryan Kalish against left-handed reliever Glen Perkins, the young clutch machine provides again, taking a 1-0 fastball and launching a rocket shot over the Monster to recover the lead for the Sox. With Dustin Pedroia scoring on a Cody Ross single after being hit by Perkins, the Sox will even head to the ninth with some insurance.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 2, Mid 8th -- </b>The Red Sox will consider themselves lucky to have escaped with a tie. Andrew Miller enters the eighth inning in place of Clay Buchholz, and does his best 2011 Andrew Miller impression, walking two and giving up an infield single to load the bases without an out. In comes Alfredo Aceves, however, to save the day, surrendering just the one run on a sacrifice fly while escaping the inning otherwise unharmed.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 1, End 7th -- </b>The Red Sox waste a leadoff base hit from Jarrod Saltalamacchia as the bottom third of the order go 1-2-3, leaving the Sox clinging to the same lead they've had for the last three frames now.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 1, Mid 7th -- </b>Clay Buchholz has likely pitched his last inning of the night, but it comes in 1-2-3 fashion thanks to a double play off the bat of Alexi Casilla. Buchholz has come a long way after those two terrible months to start the season.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 1, End 6th -- </b>Adrian Gonzalez gives the Sox their first hit since the second inning, but it's a two-out single that doesn't lead to anything more, leaving the Sox still stuck at just the two runs.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 1, Mid 6th -- </b>The Sox have a bit of a scary moment when Bobby Valentine and the trainers come out to check on Clay Buchholz, who hunches over by the mound after getting Ryan Doumit to ground into a double play. They head back to the dugout, however, and Buchholz stays in to record the last out and move the game along to the bottom of the sixth.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 1, End 5th -- </b>Cole De Vries strikes out the side in order in the bottom of the fifth. He's settled in after early struggles.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 1, Mid 5th -- </b>The Red Sox surrender what might be the quintessential Red Sox opposition run this season: a one-out ground ball single, an errant throw to first from Clay Bucholz, and then a nubber in front of the plate that Kelly Shoppach throws into Ben Revere's back. Tough one to swallow, that, but they've still got the lead at least.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 0, End 4th -- </b>Jarrod Saltalamacchia draws a two-out walk and Mike Aviles hits another deep fly ball to left, but it dies near the warning track to keep the Sox to just the two runs through four.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 0, Mid 4th -- </b>Buchholz gives up a double to the wall with two outs in the inning, but strikes out Darin Mastroianni to end the inning without any further incident.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 0, End 3rd -- </b>Cole De Vries enjoys a 1-2-3 third--his first scoreless inning of the night--though he needs a good pick on a well-hit grounder to retire Carl Crawford, and has to throw seven pitches to Dustin Pedroia to grab the third out of the frame.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 0, Mid 3rd -- </b>Clay Buchholz bounces back in style with a nine-pitch third inning, getting two ground balls and one through the air to preserve Boston's lead headed to the bottom of the third.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 2, Twins 0, End 2nd -- </b>One big swing from Mike Aviles doubles the Sox' lead, as the shortstop launched his eleventh homer of the season up and into the Monster seats to make it 2-0 after two.<b> </b></p>
<p><b>Red Sox 1, Twins 0, Mid 2nd -- </b>Clay Buchholz gets himself into and out of a big jam in the second. After allowing a line drive to center to Justin Morneau, giving the Twins a leadoff baserunner, Buchholz made a confusing (given Morneau's total lack of speed) throw to first which got away from Adrian Gonzalez, allowing Morneau to move into scoring position. A seeing-eye-single through the left side wasn't enough to get him in, however, and just put runners on the corners with nobody out.</p>
<p>Buchholz would battle back with some help from the defense after that. A well placed fastball cut just over the plate to Darin Mastroianni, costing him a called strike three, and while Brian Dozier put a decent swing on the ball, Nick Punto made a diving grab to make the out and keep the runners right where they were. With Adrian Gonzalez ranging to make a play on a ground ball from Jamey Carroll and tossing to Buchholz covering first, the Sox were out of the jam without any damage.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 1, Twins 0, End 1st -- </b>Even with Jacoby Ellsbury out, the top of the lineup gets the job done in the first. Ryan Kalish draws a five-pitch walk in the leadoff spot, and then is quickly knocked in by Carl Crawford, who goes to the opposite field with authority for a wallball double. While the middle-of-the-order goes 1-2-3, stranding Crawford, they'll be happy with the early lead and the positive signs from their left fielder.</p>
<p><b>Red Sox 0, Twins 0, Mid 1st -- </b>The worst things get for Clay Buchholz in the first is a 2-0 count to Denard Span, who takes the next two pitches for strikes and goes down swinging at the changeup. Ben Revere and Joe Mauer follow him back to the dugout with a pair of quick ground balls as Buchholz wraps up a very nice 1-2-3 start to his outing.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/8/4/3220457/red-sox-vs-twins-live-blog-inning-by-inning-updates-for-game-3Benjamin Buchanan2012-08-04T15:45:16-04:002012-08-04T15:45:16-04:00Red Sox Vs. Twins Lineup: Nick Punto Plays Third
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<p>The Red Sox will look to snap their three-game losing streak as they take on the Minnesota Twins in the third game of a four-game series in Fenway Park. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. EST with broadcasts on NESN and WEEI.</p>
<p>After a few days with Ryan Lavarnway in the lineup, the Sox will shift back to having both Kelly Shoppach and Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the lineup against the right-handed Cole De Vries.</p>
<p>They will also be without Will Middlebrooks, who gets the day off in place of Nick Punto at third base. Punto will bat ninth, with Mike Aviles remaining in the lineup in favor of Pedro Ciriaco and batting seventh.</p>
<p><b>Boston Red Sox (53-54)</b></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Jacoby Ellsbury, CF</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Carl Crawford, LF</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Dustin Pedroia, 2B</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Adrian Gonzalez, 1B</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Cody Ross, RF</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Jarrod Saltalamacchia, DH</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Mike Aviles, SS</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Kelly Shoppach, C</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Nick Punto, 3B</span></li>
</ol>
<p><b>Minnesota Twins (46-60)</b></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Denard Span, CF</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Ben Revere, RF</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Joe Mauer, 1B</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Justin Morneau, DH</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Ryan Doumit, C</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Darin Mastroianni, LF</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Brian Dozier, SS</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Alexi Casilla, 2B</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Jamey Carroll, 3B</span></li>
</ol>
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<p class="game-title"><a href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> <br> <span>@ <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> </span></p>
<p class="game-info"><span>Saturday, Aug 4, 2012, 7:10 PM EDT</span><br> Fenway Park</p>
<p class="pitchers"><span>Cole De Vries</span> vs <span>Clay Buchholz</span></p>
<p class="weather"> Partly cloudy,rain. Winds blowing in from right field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game time temperature around 85.</p>
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https://boston.sbnation.com/2012/8/4/3220089/red-sox-vs-twins-lineup-nick-punto-plays-thirdBenjamin Buchanan