Despite 11 strikeouts, the Twins hung around long enough to score two runs on Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale, one of the best pitchers in the game, then pounced on the bullpen to take Game 1 of the three-game series, 6-2.
And if it’s not Eddie Rosario helping the Twins win, it’s Eduardo Escobar, who hit two doubles Tuesday night and now leads the majors with 32.
After the Twins pulled ahead 2-1, the Red Sox came right back to tie the game against reliever Zach Duke. But the Twins rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth to make a winner out of Duke, who also was credited with the blown save.
Starter Jose Berrios didn’t figure in the decision, but he still pitched a quality start, striking out six over six-plus innings and limited the Red Sox to one run. Berrios exited with an ERA of 3.38.
Lance Lynn gets the ball Wednesday.
Extra innings…
-Robbie Grossman struck out three times against Sale, but once Sale was out of the picture, Grossman tripled and drove in two runs in the eighth inning.
-With tough lefty Sale on the mound for Boston, left-handed hitters Max Kepler and Logan Morrison were not in the lineup for the Twins.
-The Twins improved to 32-37 after Tuesday’s win. They are 1.5 games back of the Detroit Tigers and 5.5 games back of the Cleveland Indians.