The Boston Red Sox cruised to a 13-8 victory over the Minnesota Twins at JetBlue Park on Saturday in spring training action. Jarren Duran paced the offense, going 2-for-2 with two home runs and four RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. Sonny Gray worked 1.1 innings on the mound, allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits. The Twins out-hit the Sox 13-12 on the day. The Sox will take confidence from a well-rounded effort on both sides of the ball. Spring training is about building toward the regular season, and this was a step in the right direction.
Key Performers
Jarren Duran was the key contributor at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two home runs and four RBI. His power was on full display throughout the game. The Sox will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Max Ferguson chipped in, going 1-for-1 with a home run and four RBI, Roman Anthony added to the attack, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Carlos Narváez provided support, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, James Outman led the Twins offense with a 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI day. Kody Clemens also contributed, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Byron Buxton added a 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Sox pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Sonny Gray got the start, running into trouble, working 1.1 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits with one strikeout. He threw 31 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 6.5 innings of work, allowing 5 earned runs while striking out eight. The Sox continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting.
Among the relievers, Connelly Early stood out with 2.2 innings of 2-run work, striking out three. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
The Sox struck first, tallying two runs in the first inning. Twins answered with four runs in the second. The Sox responded with a run in the second. The Sox pushed across three runs in the third. The Sox plated two runs in the fourth. Twins answered with a run in the fifth. The Sox responded with a run in the fifth. Twins countered with a run in the sixth. Twins plated two runs in the seventh. The Sox answered with four runs in the seventh. The Sox spread their scoring across six different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. Twins out-hit the Sox 13-12, with 2 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 8,629 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Sox will look to build on this positive performance as spring training winds down. With the regular season rapidly approaching, outings like this one provide confidence and continuity for a roster that is rounding into form. Every remaining exhibition game is another chance to sharpen the details before the games start counting for real.