In a game that felt like a tale of two halves, the Minnesota Twins showcased their resilience on Friday night at Fenway Park. Trailing by as many as four runs early in the contest, a massive seventh-inning Minnesota Twins rally propelled the visitors to an 8-6 comeback victory over the Boston Red Sox. The heroics were headlined by Byron Buxton and Austin Martin, who both delivered towering two-run home runs to erase a deficit and silence the Boston crowd.
The Seventh-Inning Surge
The turning point of the game arrived in the top of the seventh inning with the Twins trailing 6-3. Boston reliever Justin Slaten, who entered the game having not allowed a run in 15 consecutive appearances dating back to last September, saw his dominant streak come to a crashing end. After Luke Keaschall reached base, Buxton stepped to the plate and launched a 431-foot blast to center field, cutting the lead to one.
The momentum didn't stop there. Moments later, after Brooks Lee reached, Austin Martin hammered his second home run of the season into the left-center field seats. The two-homer outburst flipped the scoreboard, giving Minnesota a 7-6 lead and completing a stunning Minnesota Twins rally that shifted the entire energy of the series opener.
Early Red Sox Dominance and Milestones
Before the Twins' late-game fireworks, the Red Sox appeared to be in total control. Boston jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the very first inning, teeing off on Twins starter Connor Prielipp. Wilyer Abreu started the scoring with an RBI double, followed by a milestone moment for Willson Contreras. Contreras notched his 1,000th career hit with an RBI triple, further cementing his legacy as one of the game's premier catchers. Andruw Monasterio and Marcelo Mayer also added RBIs in the opening frame.
Red Sox starter Payton Tolle was effective through six innings, striking out nine Twins batters and allowing only three runs. However, the Boston bullpen could not maintain the cushion once Tolle exited the game. Prielipp struggled for Minnesota, lasting only four innings while surrendering six runs on seven hits, but the Twins' bats ensured he would avoid the loss.
Bullpen Battle and Closing the Door
The Twins' victory was secured by a stellar performance from their relief corps. Travis Adams earned his first win of the season (1-0) by providing two scoreless innings of relief, effectively stabilizing the game while the offense went to work. Following the seventh-inning lead change, Eric Orze and Anthony Banda navigated a high-pressure eighth inning.
The Red Sox threatened in the bottom of the eighth when Mayer reached on an error and Carlos Narváez drew a walk. However, Banda entered the game and induced a flyout from Mickey Gasper to end the threat. Minnesota added an insurance run in the ninth when Trevor Larnach drew a bases-loaded walk, and Banda returned to the mound to secure his first save of the season.
Game Notes and Looking Ahead
The night began with a touch of nostalgia as MLB legend Roger Clemens threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his son, Red Sox infielder Kody Clemens. While the Red Sox saw strong offensive contributions from Abreu and Contreras, their inability to shut the door in the late innings proved costly. For the Twins, the win serves as a testament to their power-hitting depth and bullpen reliability.
- Byron Buxton finished the night with a home run and an RBI single.
- Austin Martin's go-ahead homer was his second of the 2026 campaign.
- Willson Contreras joined the 1,000-hit club in the first inning.
- The Twins' four-run seventh inning snapped Justin Slaten's 15-game scoreless streak.
The two teams will continue their series tomorrow, with Minnesota looking to build on the momentum of this gritty comeback win.
Sources & Original Reporting
