Twins at Red Sox
Mookie Betts added another chapter to what could be an MVP season, lifting the Boston Red Sox to a dramatic win Friday night. The Red Sox will try build on their third walk-off victory of the season when they continue a four-game series with the visiting Minnesota Twins on Saturday.
Rafael Devers forced extra innings with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the ninth inning and Betts opened the 10th with his 25th home run of the season to deliver a 4-3 victory, evening the set at a game apiece. Betts had been 6-for-34 over his last seven-plus games prior to the blast, which allowed Boston to snap its first two-game slide in over a month and open up a five-game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East. The Twins fell eight games back in the AL Central and were in sell mode earlier in the day, sending infielder Eduardo Escobar - the major-league leader in doubles with 37 - to Arizona in exchange for three minor leaguers. Minnesota will try to bounce back Saturday behind veteran Jake Odorizzi while Boston gives the ball to fellow right-hander Rick Porcello.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (4-6, 4.37 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (12-4, 3.93)
Odorizzi allowed one earned run on a season low-tying two hits with eight strikeouts over six innings at Kansas City on Sunday. Walks have been an issue at times for the 28-year-old, but he's issued only three free passes over the last three starts. Odorizzi has a 5.93 in nine career starts at Fenway Park.
Porcello sat through two rain delays while putting together six scoreless innings in a win at Baltimore on Monday. He is 0-2 with a 9.22 ERA over his last three home starts and owns an 11-14 record in Boston since the start of 2017, all after going 13-1 at Fenway in his 2016 Cy Young campaign. The New Jersey native spun seven scoreless while yielding one hit at Minnesota last month to improve to 11-10 with a 3.75 ERA lifetime versus the Twins.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox CF Jackie Bradley Jr. slugged a two-run homer Friday and has 15 RBIs in his last 16 games.
2. Twins RHP Matt Belisle served up the game-winning homer to Betts and has allowed 15 runs (12 earned) in 9 1/3 career innings against Boston.
3. Minnesota also shipped RHP Ryan Pressly to Houston for a pair of minor leaguers.