Twins vs. Red Sox Preview
BOSTON, MA (AP) – Francisco Liriano’s no-hitter snapped a six-game losing streak for the Minnesota Twins. Due to flu-like symptoms, Liriano won’t have the chance to help his team stop another skid just yet.
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Nick Blackburn may be a solid alternative.
The right-hander looks to remain unbeaten as a starter against the Boston Red Sox when the Twins finish a four-game set at Fenway Park on Monday night.
According to MLB odds and oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Red Sox -220 money line favorites for Monday’s game against the Twins. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 91% of more than 293 bets for this game have been placed on the Red Sox -220.
Liriano was scheduled to start for the first time since throwing the majors’ first no-hitter this season against the Chicago White Sox last Tuesday, but he arrived at the ballpark before Saturday’s game with a sore throat and fatigue. Manager Ron Gardenhire decided to start Blackburn on Monday and push Liriano back to Tuesday night’s game against Detroit.
“He’s weak and hasn’t been able to eat anything,” Gardenhire told the team’s official website. “So it’s the right thing to do with all those pitches and the flu.”
Blackburn (2-4, 4.41 ERA) will work on regular rest after breaking a four-start losing streak Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing one run in 6 2-3 innings of a 3-2 victory.
Blackburn is 2-0 with a 3.20 ERA in three career starts against Boston, though he suffered a loss in relief Sept. 29, 2007. He hasn’t faced the Red Sox since beating them May 26, 2009.
The Twins (12-20) may need a solid performance from Blackburn to snap out of another funk. Minnesota lost Sunday for the second straight day in Boston, blowing an early three-run lead in a 9-5 defeat.
Danny Valencia homered and drove in three runs, but the Twins committed three errors and allowed two unearned runs in the seventh inning.
“When you give a team extra outs, you pay,” Gardenhire said. “We paid today. These guys are very resilient over there.”
Facing Josh Beckett (2-1, 2.35) may not be the ideal situation for struggling Minnesota.
The right-hander hasn’t lost since his first start April 5, allowing seven runs with 31 strikeouts in 33 1-3 innings since.
Beckett hasn’t factored into the decision in any of his last three starts despite pitching well. He faced the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, pitching 4 1-3 scoreless innings before the game was interrupted by rain.
The Red Sox (16-18) used a potent offense Sunday to beat the Twins for the ninth time in the last 10 meetings in Boston. Jacoby Ellsbury went 3 for 5 to extend his hitting streak to 17 games – the longest active streak in the majors – and J.D. Drew and Jed Lowrie had two RBIs each.
Adrian Gonzalez hit his fourth home run and drove in two runs, giving him a team-high 24 RBIs. He has three homers in his last six games after hitting just one in his first 28.
“Once we get into the later part of May, we’re all going to start feeling better,” Gonzalez said. “It’s got nothing to do with the park, it’s got something to do with my swing. You start feeling things.”
Dustin Pedroia went 1 for 4 on Sunday and is hitting .135 (5 for 37) over his last nine games, but he’s 4 for 10 lifetime against Blackburn.
The Red Sox are 5-5 entering the finale of an 11-game homestand – their longest of the season.
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