Twins 5, Red Sox 2
Jim Thome doubled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and finished with two RBIs as the Minnesota Twins snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Wednesday.
Joe Mauer added an RBI and scored a pair of runs for the Twins, who avoided a sweep of the three-game series.
The Red Sox had their four-game winning streak stopped.
Minnesota held the lead for most of the game until Boston pulled even in the top of the eighth on David Ortiz’s 23rd home run to deep center.
The Red Sox elected to bring starter Jon Lester (11-6) back out for the eighth and Minnesota took advantage of the tiring lefthander. Mauer drew a walk leading off the inning and came around to score the go-ahead run when Thome drove a double to the opposite field in left.
The Twins added insurance when Alfredo Aceves came in for Boston and allowed an inherited runner to score before surrendering a run of his own.
Glen Perkins (4-2) got credit for the win in relief and Joe Nathan worked the ninth to become the Twins all-time saves leader with 255, passing Rick Aguilera.
Minnesota’s Nick Blackburn gave up one unearned run and six
hits in 6 2/3 innings. Lester gave up four runs and eight hits in 7 1/3
innings.