May 27, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe (24) congratulates center fielder Aaron Hicks (32) after scoring in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Target Field. Photo Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
MINNEAPOLIS — Aaron Hicks and Eddie Rosario homered and right-hander Phil Hughes pitched 6 2/3 innings to help the Minnesota Twins to a 6-4 win over the Boston Red Sox at Target Field on Wednesday.
For Minnesota it was their first sweep of Boston in nearly a decade, when they took three from the Red Sox in June of 2006 at the Metrodome. It was also the Twins’ fifth consecutive win overall and seventh in their last eight games.
Second baseman Dustin Pedroia homered twice for the Red Sox, who had lost just four times total in five previous series at Target Field since 2010. It was Pedroia’s second multi-homer game of the season and first since Opening Day.
Twins closer Glen Perkins worked a scoreless ninth for his league-leading 18th save. Perkins is a perfect 18-for-18 in save chances this season.
Hicks’ two-run shot in the fourth inning provided Hughes with some breathing room before Pedroia’s second two-run blast in the fifth made it a 5-4 game. Rosario’s second homer of the season traveled 433 feet over the fence in right field, making it a two-run game in the bottom of the sixth.
Pedroia’s two-run homer in the top of the third gave Boston an early 2-0 lead and snapped a streak of nine games in which Minnesota had scored first.
The Twins countered in the bottom half of the inning, stringing together two walks and three singles against Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello. With the bases loaded and one out, right fielder Torii Hunter fought off an inside fastball, landing a single just inside the right-field line behind first base, scoring two. First baseman Joe Mauer followed with a sharp single to left driving in another run to give Minnesota the lead for good.
Other than the two mistakes to Pedroia, Hughes was solid, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out three, evening his record at 4-4.
Porcello took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two.
NOTES: Red Sox RF Rusney Castillo did not play Wednesday because of a shoulder injury. He is considered day-to-day. … Red Sox LHP Eduardo Rodriguez will be recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket in time to make his scheduled start on Thursday against the Texas Rangers. The club will announce a corresponding roster move on Thursday. … Twins RHP Casey Fien is pitching for Triple-A Rochester as he rehabs hit injured throwing shoulder. Fien could return to the Twins’ bullpen by this weekend. … The Red Sox open a four-game series with the Rangers in Arlington on Thursday. … The Twins are off on Thursday before continuing their homestand with a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field.
