Trevor Story drives in five runs as Red Sox beat Twins, avoid sweep

The past few days in Minneapolis did not go according to plan, but the Boston Red Sox managed to get out of town on a high note.

The Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 9-5 in Wednesday’s series finale, avoiding a three-game sweep and salvaging a .500 road trip. Trevor Story led the way by going 2 for 4 with five RBI, including a three-run home run to cap off a five-run rally in the third inning and later a two-run double in the sixth that put the game well out of reach.

That was more than enough for rookie left-hander Connelly Early, who allowed just a solo home run over six strong innings.

Boston once again found itself playing from behind after Early allowed a solo home run to Austin Martin in the bottom of the first. It was the first home run allowed by Early in his big league career, and it marked the eighth time through the first 18 games the Red Sox have allowed the opposing team to score first.

The Red Sox were 0-7 in those games entering Wednesday, but this time the offense was able to flip the script.

After failing to capitalize on a scoring opportunity in the first inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases with nobody out in the third and this time got everybody home. Boston initially got a gift when a Masataka Yoshida grounder to second was mishandled and then thrown away by Twins second baseman Luke Keaschall, allowing two runs to score, and Story followed that with his three-run bomb to left field.

“We had a good plan today, I felt like the guys were really committed to it and we didn’t try to do too much,” Story told NESN’s Jahmai Webster postgame. “I think when we do that as an offense and pass the baton to the next guy big things happen, big innings like that.”

The Red Sox kept coming from there.

Boston loaded the bases with no outs again in the fourth, but the club came away empty after Ceddanne Rafaela hit a ground ball to third that resulted in a 5-2 double play, and Yoshida struck out to end the inning. No matter. The lineup kept swinging in the fifth and scored twice more to extend the lead to 7-1.

Jarren Duran reached on a fielder’s choice and scored from first on Andruw Monasterio’s RBI double, and Monasterio later scored from third on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Connor Wong.

The Red Sox had the game well in hand by that point, but they really broke things open in the sixth when Roman Anthony led off with a single, Rafaela was hit by a pitch and Story drove both in with a two-run double into the right-field gap.

With his five RBI Story now has 17 on the season, which ranks fifth in MLB despite the Red Sox shortstop’s overall offensive production otherwise ranking among the worst in the league. Entering the day Story’s OPS+ — an advanced stat where 100 equals league average production, 120 is 20% better than average and 80 is 20% worse — sat at 36, or 64% worse than average. That ranked tied for 15th worst among all MLB players with at least 50 plate appearances.

And yet, Story also has more RBI (17) than he has hits (16), suggesting that when he has come through, it’s tended to happen in big spots. He’s also shown signs of heating up, having now gone 8 for his last 16 dating back to Sunday.

“I love hitting with runners in scoring position,” Story said. “I felt like we did a good job at that last year and really just dialed in on the approach.”

While the offense was doing its thing, Early enjoyed a relatively stress-free afternoon on the mound. After a couple of laborious outings, the only damage Early allowed on Wednesday came courtesy of Martin’s first inning solo shot. From there he only allowed four baserunners the rest of the way, finishing with one run allowed on two hits, two walks and a hit batsman over six innings with five strikeouts.

With that performance, the Red Sox are now 7-0 on the season when their starting pitcher completes six innings. They’re 0-11 when they don’t.

Early came out after 85 pitches, and Danny Coulombe followed with a scoreless seventh inning and Garrett Whitlock a scoreless eighth. Ryan Watson had a rough ninth inning, allowing four runs on a walk and three hits, including a three-run home run by Ryan Kreidler, but eventually finished the job to close out the Red Sox win.

With the win the Red Sox return to Fenway Park sitting at 7-11 on the season. They will open a four-game series on Friday against the Detroit Tigers, which will culminate with the annual Patriots Day matinee on Marathon Monday.

Contreras, Abreu sit

The Red Sox were able to enjoy one of their best offensive performances of the season despite two of the club’s top hitters sitting. Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu were both out of the lineup, with Alex Cora giving the pair an extra day off their feet ahead of Thursday’s off day.

Contreras left Tuesday’s game in the fifth inning after experiencing back tightness fielding a ground ball at first, though Cora told reporters in Minnesota that the issue isn’t believed to be serious. Abreu is healthy and was given a scheduled off day after playing each of the club’s first 17 games out of the gate.

Monasterio got the start at first base in Contreras’ place, Roman Anthony played right field in place of Abreu, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa got the start at third base over Caleb Durbin, who has gotten off to a rough start to his first season in Boston.

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