Who’s Hot?: Colby Rasmus, is hitting.302/.449/.648 with a team leading six home runs and 16 RBIs.
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David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez, Ryan Hanigan, and Bradley Jr. all had two hits as well. Boston SS Xander Bogaerts returned to the lineup Sunday after being hit in the right wrist with a pitch Friday.
Bradley singled with the bases loaded off Ken Giles (0-2). Although not excessively vulnerable to home runs in the minors, he is a fly ball pitcher and will have to be sharp with his location in the majors to avoid gopheritis.
The Red Sox head straight to Atlanta for the first game of their home-and-home interleague series against the Braves on Monday.
Kimbrel recorded two quick outs in the ninth.
Rasmus hit a 98 miles per hour 0-1 fastball from Kimbrel out to right-center field to tie it 5-5.
Kimbrel blew a save for the first time in six chances since joining the Red Sox in the offseason. The closer allowed a two-out double to Correa before giving up a game-tying two-run homer to Colby Rasmus, finishing with two runs on two hits with two strikeouts.
Next is Jackie Bradley Jr., who had two hits and two runs batted in (including the game-winning run in the 12th). He’s been a four-time All-Star and finished in the top 10 in the NL Cy Young voting four times, including in the top five twice. The Red Sox desperately need someone who can give the bullpen a rest and this guy didn’t do it. Washington improved to 13-4, while the last-place Twins are 5-13. The lefty threw 85 pitches before giving way to reliever Matt Barnes. Owens went 3.1 innings while walking four batters and surrendering five hits.
Matz (2-1) struck out eight, one shy of his career high, and did not walk a batter.
– Koji Uehara pitched for the first time since taking a loss against the Toronto Blue Jays on April 18, and the extra rest did the right-hander good.
It all was lined up for Kimbrel who just couldn’t finish the job.
Rasmus and his teammates will try to sustain their offensive momentum Sunday night while spoiling Henry Owens’ season debut for the Boston Red Sox. Acquired by Boston along with right-hander Carson Smith in a trade with the Seattle Mariners this past December, Elias began 2016 in Pawtucket’s starting rotation. The Red Sox pitching staff has been hit or miss this season, as they’ve allowed four or more runs in six of their last 12 games.
Owens’ control issues have been well documented. He threw only 53 percent strikes here Sunday.
It’s hard to judge him on only 15 games and I’m not trying to say that he’s already on the chopping block, but the season has not been a great start and once again several of his moves with regards to pitchers have raised the largest questions.
No. 8 hitter Marwin Gonzalez took Owens deep.
Mookie Betts is on a tear right now. Luis Valbuena walked before Jason Castro popped up and Jose Altuve grounded into a force at second base.
But Farrell challenged the call at second because Altuve’s foot was off the bag.
The bases, therefore, were loaded with just one out instead of runners at first and third with two outs.
Travis Shaw walked, forcing home a run to make it 2-0.
The Red Sox are now 9-9, with 90 runs scored and 90 runs allowed.
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Travis Shaw made a diving play to his left for a second out that almost helped Buchholz escape the fatal fifth inning.
