Joltin’ Joe Hits First Ever Walkoff HR in Twins Win

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Mauer hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Minnesota Twins to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.

Mauer's first career walk-off home run landed in the bullpen in left-center field and backed a strong start from Phil Hughes in the Twins' fifth win in six games. Hughes gave up one run and six hits in 6 2/3 innings while struck out four in his deepest outing of the season for the Twins.

Chris Young's pinch-hit, two-run single in the top of the ninth tied the game at 3-3 for the Red Sox, who were fresh off of an exhausting four-game series against the Orioles that included beanballs, ejections and a fan hurling racial epithets at O's outfielder Adam Jones. Andrew Benintendi hit his fourth homer of the year for Boston.

The Twins go for another win against Boston Saturday. Pregame coverage begins at 12:30 on Newstalk 1340 KROC AM.