MINNEAPOLIS – The Red Sox extended their winning streak to six games with a 2-0 victory over the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins Monday night.
Rick Porcello outdueled Twins ace Jose Berrios, tossing seven innings of scoreless baseball. He struck out eight, walked one, and allowed only four hits.
Berrios was outstanding in his own right, giving up one run over eight innings of work. He struck out 10 and gave up five hits. The lone blemish on Berrios’ night was a J.D. Martinez RBI single in the first inning.
Colten Brewer escaped a jam in the eighth inning to preserve Boston’s 1-0 lead. After the first two hitters of the inning reached and were bunted into scoring position by .330 hitter Jorge Polanco, Brewer fielded a slow chopper by Nelson Cruz and started a rundown at the plate that resulted in the second out of the inning. He then induced an Eddie Rosario groundout to end the frame, stranding two runners.
Xander Bogaerts would drive in an insurance run in the top of the ninth, ripping a double into the right-centerfield gap.
Congratulations to Xander on his 300th career extra-base hit! pic.twitter.com/ncUwWIX9ek
— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) June 18, 2019
Ryan Brasier picked up his first save since April 21, working a scoreless ninth inning. Brasier was activated Monday from the bereavement/family medical emergency list.
The Sox and Twins will play again Tuesday. David Price (4-2, 3.52 ERA) will take the ball against Michael Pineda (4-3, 5.04 ERA).
