Minnesota Twins Beat Boston Red Sox In Grapefruit Opener

Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Twins started Grapefruit League doing something that the Twins haven’t done a lot of recently, winning. The Twins took the short trip to JetBlue Park to take on the Boston Red Sox and snatched victory by a score of 8-2.

The biggest news of the day was Miguel Sano not playing. He was supposed to play in Friday’s game against the Red Sox, but his elbow has flared up again. The Twins Radio Network stated that he tweaked his elbow in the intra-squad game on Thursday.

Mike Pelfrey started the game for the Twins and pitched two scoreless innings only giving up one hit. Sam Deduno also pitched two innings in the contest also only giving up a hit. Also pitching for the Twins on Friday (all an inning a piece): Brian Duensing, Casey Fien, Caleb Thielbar, Aaron Thompson and Sean Gilmartin.

Chris Colabello impressed with a two-out two-RBI double in his start at first base. Trevor Plouffe went 1-2 on the day with an RBI and a walk. Brian Dozier also went 1-2 on the day with a walk and scored two runs.

Byron Buxton came into the game as a sub and went 1-2. Buxton hit an infield single and (Dan Gladden on the radio call stated that he) grabbed his leg after crossing the bag. Buxton stayed in the game. Via Twitter, the beat reporters down in Florida said that it didn’t look bad.

The Twins had problems at the plate not striking out. Pitchers will always dominate early in spring, but the strikeout numbers were a little ridiculous. Twins hitters struck out 13 times in 38 at-bats. Alex Presley, Chris Colabello, Kennys Vargas and Jason Bartlett all struck out two times. Jason Kubel wins the strikeout title, striking out in all three of his at-bats.

Bryce Brentz knocked in the first run for the Red Sox with a solo homer in the sixth inning off of Casey Fien. The Red Sox knocked in another off of Sean Gilmartin in the ninth inning.

The Twins play the Red Sox again at home on Saturday. Game time is noon central on both Fox Sports North and the Twins Radio Network.