G78: Twins 4, Red Sox 1

Twins   - 200 002 000 - 4  7  0
Red Sox - 000 000 100 - 1  7  0

The Red Sox had at least one baserunner in every inning. In the seventh, they squandered a bases-loaded/one-out situation, getting only one run on a groundout. They ended the evening with 11 men left on base.

Boston did absolutely nothing against Minnesota's mediocre starter, Adalberto Mejia (5.2-5-0-1-3, 101), who began the night with a 4.93 ERA and a 1.577 WHIP (with 5.3 walks/9). Mejia had lasted more than five innings in only two of his 10 starts. ... Make that three of 11, now.

First of all, though, Porcello gave up two first-inning runs. He got the first two batters, but Joe Mauer doubled to the opposite field and scored on Miguel Sano's double into the left field corner. Max Kepler blooped a single into right to make it 2-0.

The bottom of the third seemed promising as it began with singles from Deven Marrero and Mookie Betts. But Dustin Pedroia popped to shortstop and Xander Bogaerts struck out, chasing a changeup down and away. Marrero stole third, but Mitch Moreland also struck out.

Porcello held the Twins in check until the sixth, when he walked Sano on four pitches to open the inning and gave up a line-drive home run to right-center to Kepler.

In the seventh, facing Tyler Duffey, Sandy Leon singled to right. Tzu-Wei Lin pinch-hit for Marrero and flied to center. Duffey then walked both Betts and Pedroia. (Home plate umpire James Hoye shrunk the strike zone (i.e., changed the rules) in this inning (actually the zone was much smaller for the final three innings; ball four to Pedroia was an obvious strike.) Boston had the bases loaded, and the potential tying run at the plate. Bogaerts chopped a weak grounder to shortstop. Jorge Polanco's only play was to first base, and a run scored. Taylor Rogers came in and struck out Moreland to end the rally.

In the eighth, Robby Scott came in with a man on second and one out. He intentionally walked Eduardo Escobar and then unintentionally walked Eddie Rosario, loading the bases. But he escaped by striking out Polanco.

The Red Sox could not rally in the final two innings. Jackie Bradley was hit by a pitch with one out in the eighth, but Sam Travis struck out looking and Leon flied to left. Mookie Betts doubled with one out in the ninth (he leads the AL with 26 doubles), but Pedroia grounded to shortstop and Bogaerts waved at a 1-2 pitch well out of the strike zone.

NESN's Graphic of Useless Clutter was back tonight, appearing 45 times. And in exactly 0 of those times was any useful information transmitted.

Adalberto Mejia / Rick Porcello

Betts, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Bogaerts, SS
Moreland, 1B
Young, LF
Bradley, CF
Travis, DH
Leon, C
Marrero, 3B

      W   L   GB   RS   RA  EXPWL
BOS  43  34  ---  363  323  43-34
MFY  41  34  1.0  417  322  46-29
TBR  41  38  3.0  387  364  42-37
BAL  38  38  4.5  347  410  32-44
TOR  36  40  6.5  325  349  36-40

From a poll at MLB.com:

The correct answer is 9.

Also from Cut 4: Royals catcher Drew Butera (an eight-year MLB vet) had trouble catching Oklahoma softball pitcher Paige Parker. His teammates were amused.