Twins Sweep Bosox For First Time in 9 Years

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Given an early two-run lead by Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox starter Rick Porcello was trying to provide a shutdown inning.

Porcello walked Aaron Hicks with one out. And it led to a big inning for the Twins.

The next four batters reached and the Twins grabbed the lead and momentum on the way to a 6-4 win on Wednesday and a sweep of their three-game series.

Torii Hunter had a two-run single and Joe Mauer added an RBI single to cap the Twins’ third-inning rally for a 3-2 lead. Two of the runners who scored, Hicks and Brian Dozier, had reached on the only two walks given up by Porcello.

The Twins’ rally came right after Pedroia gave Boston the lead with a two-run homer in the top of the third. The shut-down inning then eluded the Red Sox.

Pedroia homered again with a runner on in the fifth, but that was after Porcello (4-4) allowed a two-run homer to Hicks. He later gave up a solo shot to Eddie Rosario.

The Red Sox scored all four of their runs off Twins starter Phil Hughes (4-4), and had opportunities against the Minnesota bullpen.

Blake Swihart flew out with a runner on second off Brian Duensing to end the seventh. Michael Tonkin got David Ortiz to hit a weak grounder to the left side with two runners on to end the eighth.

Minnesota has won nine of 11 and swept Boston for the first time since June 13-15, 2006.

Hughes struck out three and walked none in 62/3 innings. Glen Perkins pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 18th save in as many chances.

Hicks’ two-run home run to right field in the fourth gave the Twins a 5-2 lead. It was Hicks’ first homer in 171-at bats since April 24, 2014.