Boston Red Sox still struggling with May

The bats woke up for the Boston Red Sox in the matinee portion of today’s doubleheader, but they forgot to save some runs for the nightcap. Boston managed a meager two hits in a 2-0 shutout, as the Minnesota Twins rallied to salvage a split.

The Red Sox thought they had put their brutal month of May behind them, but they found their fortunes to be no better against Trevor May. The Twins starter baffled the Red Sox hitters through 7 innings, allowing only a pair of hits and striking out 9.

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While Boston drew first blood in the day game, it was the Twins that struck first in Game 2. Eddie Rosario led off the second inning with a base hit off of starter Rick Porcello. After Rosario stole second, seldom used backup catcher Chris Herrmann knocked him in with a double off the wall. Aaron Hicks followed with a single to put men on the corners and Danny Santana pulled off a successful safety squeeze to sacrifice another run home.

Porcello would settle down after that inning, retiring 18 of the final 19 batters that he faced, but received no support from his offense. No matter how well Porcello pitched, he wasn’t going to earn a victory with the Red Sox offense putting up a doughnut on the board.

Boston entered the game 0-26 this season when trailing after 8 innings, while Twins closer Glen Perkins was a perfect 19-for-19 in save chances. The results from there were predictable as Perkins breezed through the 9th inning.

Rusney Castillo came to the plate as a pinch-hitter for Carlos Peguero to start the inning, but after getting behind in the count 3-0, Perkins was able to come back to strikeout Castillo. After Dustin Pedroia flew out to shallow center, Hanley Ramirez came off the bench to hit for Brock Holt. Representing the last chance for the Red Sox, Ramirez failed to bring any drama to the 9th inning, ending the night on a called third strike.

Boston will finish their series with the Twins Thursday afternoon with Steven Wright (3.90 ERA) taking the mound against Kyle Gibson (2.61 ERA).

Game Notes

• Mookie Betts was dropped to 7th in the lineup after an 0-for-4 performance in the day game. Brock Holt took his place in the 2-hole, as manager John Farrell likely wanted another left-handed bat near the top of the order. Lefties had hit .315 against Twins starter Trevor May entering the game.
• Hanley Ramirez started the night game on the bench, with Carlos Peguero getting his first start in a Red Sox uniform. Peguero provided one of only two Red Sox hits tonight. With the recently acquired Alejandro De Aza expected to join the team as soon as Thursday, Peguero may not be on the roster much longer.
• Farrell seemed to confirm after the day game today that Eduardo Rodriguez is here to stay in the Red Sox rotation. “If he goes through Pawtucket, it’s only on the way to Baltimore.”

Grades

Porcello got off to a rough start that saw him surrender a pair of runs in the second inning, but he recovered to shut down the Twins the rest of the day. He finished his night having pitched 8 innings, allowing only those 2 runs on 5 hits. He didn’t allow a walk and struck out 5. This marks only the third time all season Porcello has gone at least 7 innings and given up 2 runs or less.

With Porcello able to go deep into the game, the bullpen was only needed for the final inning. Tazawa retired the side in order, recording a strikeout, to ensure the Twins would not build on their lead.

Tough to find a hitter deserving of the game ball when the lineup produces only two hits. Pedroia had one of them, finishing 1-for-4 from the lead-off spot. After collecting 4 hits in the matinee game, Pedroia briefly raised his season average to .300, but his fly out in the 9th inning dipped that average down to .299 at the end of the night.