In a thrilling finish, Brooks Lee's two-run single off Jordan Hicks propelled the Minnesota Twins to a 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night, following a 90-minute rain delay.
Roman Anthony's RBI single had initially given Boston the lead in the top of the ninth against Twins closer Jhoan Duran (6-4), prompting the grounds crew to swiftly cover the field as rain began to pour.
Hicks (1-7), who had been warming up prior to the weather interruption, faced immediate challenges. He allowed a single to DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and then hit Mickey Gasper and Willi Castro with consecutive pitches. With one out, Lee delivered his third walk-off hit of the season, sending a sharp grounder into left field as a few hundred soaked fans cheered from their drenched seats.
Earlier in the game, Alex Bregman continued his hot streak, hitting a three-run homer off Simeon Woods Richardson in the fifth inning, which temporarily put Boston ahead 3-2. This came after another rocky outing from Richard Fitts.
Fitts struggled, surrendering a two-run homer to Keirsey after walking Christian Vázquez to start the third inning. Keirsey, making his first start in 29 games due to All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton's ribcage irritation, has had a challenging season with just nine hits in 75 at-bats. Meanwhile, Vázquez has been mired in a slump, batting below .200 for the past six weeks.
The Red Sox are actively seeking starting pitching help with Hunter Dobbins sidelined for the season. Their bullpen was further strained as closer Aroldis Chapman was unavailable due to back tightness, and Garrett Whitlock faced issues after a turbulent flight to Minnesota that required an emergency stop during inclement weather.
Before the game, the Twins traded starting pitcher Chris Paddack to division-leading Detroit, adding another layer of complexity to their pitching strategy.
Fitts managed to escape a bases-loaded situation with no outs in the fourth inning, striking out Ty France and inducing Vázquez into a double play.
Anthony, who has solidified his role as the leadoff hitter, contributed significantly with two hits and two walks throughout the game.
Looking ahead, Lucas Giolito (6-2, 3.97 ERA) is set to start for Boston on Tuesday, stepping in for Paddack. The Twins will rely on their bullpen for the game instead.
