Twins 5, Red Sox 0
BOSTON - Minnesota right-hander Sam Deduno, making just his fifth major league start this season, flummoxed the Red Sox at Fenway Park Thursday night as the Twins beat Boston 5-0.
Deduno went six innings, allowing just two hits, with four walks and a strikeout, to earn the win. He improved to 3-0, lowering his ERA to 2.48.
Both hits he allowed were by Adrian Gonzalez - a fourth-inning double and a sixth-inning single. Deduno had runners on first and second with two outs in the first, fourth and sixth innings. But each time he retired the next batter to end the threat.
Left-hander Jon Lester took the loss for Boston. He went eight innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. His record fell to 5-9 with a 5.36 ERA. He is 0-4 with a 7.91 ERA in his last six starts, and the Sox are 1-5 in those games.
Lester retired the Twins in order in the first two innings, three on strikeouts, including the first two batters he faced. But the Twins sent six batters to the plate in the third, doing most of their damage with two outs.
Brian Dozier led off the inning with single to center field, scoring on Denard Span's two-out double to right. Span scored on Ben Revere's single to left.
Dozier hit a two-run home run off Alfredo Aceves with two outs in the ninth to complete the Twins' scoring. Danny Valencia, who had singled ahead of Dozier, scored on the shot.
The Twins added a run in the sixth when Justin Morneau and Ryan Doumit hit back-to-back two-out doubles.
Casey Fien pitched a perfect seventh for the Twins, with one strikeout. Glen Perkins threw two perfect innings, with two strikeouts, earning his sixth save.
NOTES: Twins catcher Joe Mauer was not in the Twins starting lineup. He was given a day off after starting g 35 straight games since his last day off on June 22. Drew Butera started behind the plate for the Twins...Right-hander Alex Wimmers, the Twins first-round pick in 2010, underwent Tommy John surgery on Thursday. It is the second straight year a Twins first-round pick has undergone the procedure. Right-hander Kyle Gibson, whom the Twins selected 22nd overall in 2009, underwent the same surgery in September...Third baseman Trevor Plouffe did not make the trip to Boston as he continues to rehab his bruised right thumb. He is eligible to be activated from the disabled list on Sunday...Twins left-hander Scott Diamond left his start Wednesday against the White Sox after being hit on the right thigh by a liner off the bat of Alejandro De Aza with one out in the eighth inning. He is expected to be able to make his start Monday in Cleveland . . .Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett, who left his start Tuesday against the Tigers with two outs in the third because of a back spasm, did not throw Thursday. Manager Bobby Valentine was unsure whether Beckett would be able to throw Friday. If not, Beckett will likely not make his start Sunday against the Twins. In that case, the Sox would have to name a replacement. Left-hander Franklin Morales is one option...Designated hitter David Ortiz is progressing from the strained right Achilles that has had him on the DL since July 17. He took batting practice, ran and did some agility drills Thursday afternoon. He was eligible to be activated Wednesday but still has no timetable for a return...Closer Andrew Bailey, on the DL all season after thumb surgery, is expected to make his second rehab appearance Friday, throwing an inning for the Gulf Coast League Red Sox...Span's RBI double in the third extended his hit streak to 11games...Revere's RBI single in the third extended his career-high hit streak to 16 games.
