Twins stay hot, edge Red Sox
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Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Mike Pelfrey threw seven solid innings and the streaking Minnesota Twins eked out a 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.
Trevor Plouffe and Kurt Suzuki both hit RBI doubles in the first inning, and Pelfrey and Glen Perkins made the lead stand. Pelfrey (4-1) limited Boston to one run on five hits, while Perkins recorded a four-out save.
The Twins have won four straight, 18 of 24 overall and are within one game of the AL Central-leading Royals. They will go for a three-game sweep of the Red Sox on Wednesday.
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Clay Buchholz (2-6) suffered another tough-luck loss after allowing two runs on six hits over 7 1/3 frames. He has dropped six of his last seven decisions despite six quality starts over that stretch.
A one-hour, 26-minute delay did not affect the Twins, who made two terrific plays in the field and got all the runs they needed in the first inning.
"It's all about going out there on the first pitch...and being ready," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "The offense and defense has to be ready."
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Plouffe barehanded a chopper from Dustin Pedroia and threw him out at first, before Danny Santana and Brian Dozier teamed up for a smooth double play to end the away half.
Dozier opened the bottom half with a double and came around when Plouffe sliced one down the right-field line, and Suzuki followed with a double just inside the left-field line to make it 2-0.
Boston's only run came in the second when David Ortiz doubled and came around on Mike Napoli's base hit to center.
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Pelfrey did not allow another runner past first, and Perkins worked out of a jam in the eighth thanks to Dozier preventing a run from scoring.
Pablo Sandoval hit a bouncer up the middle with runners on first and second, and Dozier made a diving stop to keep it in the infield. With the bases now loaded and two outs, Perkins got Hanley Ramirez on a flyout to end the threat.
The Red Sox went down in order in the ninth as Perkins posted his league- leading 17th save.
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"They have a good team and play the right way," Pedroia said. "They've played great all year."
Game Notes
Twins starters have recorded six straight quality outings ... The Red Sox are 0-23 when trailing after eight innings ... Pedroia has reached safely in all 16 of his starts at Target Field ... Boston's Rusney Castillo made two terrific diving plays in right field ... Minnesota has won 17 games in May, its most in any month since going 17-9 in June 2011.