BSJ Game Report: Twins 5, Red Sox 4 (10) - Whitlock goes seven, but offense can't pick him up as winning streak ends

Boston struggles with runners in scoring position: The Sox stranded nine runners in total, going just 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Boston left six RISP and two outs. That’s the difference between the streak and tonight’s relatively quiet showing offensively. 

TURNING POINT

Bottom of the 10th: Just a discombobulated half-inning to end the game. Started with intentionally walking old friend Christian Vazquez to set up a double-play option. Then, a broken play on a Michael A. Taylor bunt forced Triston Casas to go to Kaleb Ort covering first before a collision with Taylor, who was called out. The call stood after the Twins challenged. The Red Sox appeared to wave in Jarren Duran to set up as a fifth infielder before having him set up in shallow center. After not intentionally walking Farmer to set up another double-play option with the one out, he laced a single to center to end it. 

FOUR UP 

Justin Turner: Went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and a pair of RBI and runs. Continues to absolutely crush Sonny Gray. Now 7-for-14 with two homers. Added a stolen base in the first, which allowed him to score on a Rafael Devers double.

Garrett Whitlock: Battled and needed just 88 pitches (60 strikes) to get through seven. Sure looking like a starter, right now.

Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen: Both were automatic in relief of Whitlock. Martin with two Ks and threw 14 of 16 pitches for strikes in a 1-2-3 eighth. Threw his fastball six times and had four whiffs, per Baseball Savant. Jansen had a K and need only his cutter to get through a 1-2-3 ninth for extra innings. 

ONE ‘MEH’

Triston Casas: Decent day for the youngster. Went 2-for-5 with an RBI double to tie the game in the eighth. Obviously, striking out with two on in the 10th hurts. Made a great defensive play moving to his left for a chopper before flipping to Whitlock at first for the out in the bottom of the seventh. 

TWO DOWN

Jarren Duran: Went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts, even if there was a tough call to end an 11-pitch at-bat. Needed more out of the leadoff spot tonight. Misplayed a routine flyball to center in the fifth. 

Rafael Devers: Everything’s fine when the rest of the offense is firing as Devers has a quiet stretch of nights, but it cost Boston tonight. Couldn’t muster anything after an RBI double early on, finishing 1-for-5 with three Ks. 

NOTABLE 

Reese McGuire left the game with what the Red Sox called a right oblique strain after a big swing and miss to start an at-bat in the sixth inning. Boston does not have another catcher on the 40-man roster.

QUOTE OF NOTE

“We didn’t do much [offensively],” Alex Cora told reporters. ‘We had a lot of opportunities, and we didn’t cash in.”

UP NEXT

The final game of the four-game set will be Thursday at Target Field. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. ET. Cora said RHP Justin Garza (0-1, 3.46 ERA) could start as an opener. LHP Brandon Walter (1-5, 6.68 ERA with Triple-A Worcester), the No. 7 ranked prospect in the system, is an option after joining the team in Minnesota. RHP Joe Ryan (7-4, 3.30 ERA) will go for the Twins.