After rain postponed Saturday’s game, the host Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins will be in for a long Sunday at the ballpark as they play a split doubleheader to cap their three-game weekend series.
The original Sunday game will begin an hour ahead of schedule at 12:35 p.m. ET, with the postponed contest being made up as a 5:35 p.m. nightcap.
The Twins (81-73) will go for the series win after picking up a 4-2 victory in 12 innings on Friday. Manager Rocco Baldelli called the triumph one of the biggest of the season, even before considering the lead that his team gained for the third and final wild-card berth in the American League.
Minnesota has a half-game lead over the fourth-place Detroit Tigers.
“I loved what I saw out of the guys,” Baldelli said Friday. “It’s a huge win, and our backs were up against the wall in that game. You could say, generally speaking in some ways, too, but the way that the guys continued to play hard, play well was exactly what you’re looking for.”
After eight relievers combined to allow just five hits over Friday’s final seven innings, Minnesota ace Pablo Lopez (15-8, 3.84 ERA) will pitch the Sunday opener.
Lopez carries in a streak of seven quality starts dating to his Aug. 6 loss to the Chicago Cubs. The right-hander had won four starts in a row before yielding two runs over 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision Monday at Cleveland. The Twins lost 4-3.
Lopez is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox.
At night, Minnesota will throw its second rookie pitcher of the series in right-hander Zebby Matthews (1-3, 6.30 ERA). After being tagged for a 13.06 ERA in his previous three starts, Matthews pitched 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts on Tuesday in a no-decision at Cleveland as the Twins won 4-1.
“There’s still some things to do a lot better, but (I’m) really happy with that (outing),” Matthews said. “It’s something to build off of.”
Sunday will mark the eighth career start and first against Boston for Matthews, who began the season at High-A Cedar Rapids.
The Red Sox (76-78) will play their first game since Rafael Devers was placed on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation. The third baseman was just 1-for-15 with 11 strikeouts over his last four games.
Be the first to comment