BOSTON — The Red Sox blew out the Twins Thursday night to take the weekday series, as Bobby Dalbec had seven RBI’s while Chris Sale was strong yet again.
Dalbec put the Sox on the board early as he swatted a three-run big fly way over the Green Monster in the second. Alex Verdugo added to the lead with an RBI single in the third inning.
Chris Sale was strong yet again, but he did serve up a two-run homer to Willians Astudillo in the fifth. The southpaw did however notch his third career immaculate inning in the third inning. He ended his night hurling 5 2/3 one-run innings to go along with eight strikeouts, as he was pulled after letting up both a walk and a hit batsmen. Garrett Whitlock was able to get out of the inning though, and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh.
Rafael Devers racked on an RBI single in the fifth.
In the sixth, Dalbec added to his night, as after Christian Arroyo was hit by a pitch and Jarren Duran went the other way with a single, the first baseman notched a two-run single to his name to make it a five-RBI night, and make it 7-2 Sox.
Kiké Hernandez and Kyle Schwarber both walked to load the bases with still nobody out, and J.D. Martinez continued his struggles with runners in scoring position as he grounded into a double play. It drove in a run, but put Boston’s chances to waste.
Devers was able to give the Sox some more runs in the eighth despite the blown chances by Martinez, as he wacked a two-run shot over the right field wall to make it 10-2 in just the sixth. The long ball was his 30th of the season, as it’s his second 30-homer season of his career.
Dalbec continued to add on, as he lifted a two-run shot over the Monster in the seventh to make it a two-homer, seven-RBI night. The homer made it 12-2 Boston.
Garrett Richards loaded the bases after two hits and a walk in the eighth, but was able to successfully retire the side after a two-out lineout.
Red Sox closer Matt Barnes, because of his recent struggles, was on for the ninth despite it being a blowout just to get some work in. He hit the leadoff batter and walked a man with two outs, but captured the win for the Sox as they move to 73-56.
(Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)