Pitching
ERA4.80
NickBlackburn
| SEASON | CAREER |
| W4 | 43 |
| L6 | 52 |
| G16 | 142 |
| IP82.1 | 802.0 |
| BB24 | 200 |
| SO35 | 381 |
FranklinMorales
| SEASON | CAREER |
| W2 | 10 |
| L2 | 14 |
| G33 | 171 |
| IP57.0 | 236.0 |
| BB20 | 117 |
| SO60 | 205 |
Pitching
ERA4.31
The Boston Red Sox recognize their playoff hopes are fading, but they don't seem to have a way to stop it.
The Red Sox will try to avoid being swept at home in a four-game series by the Minnesota Twins for the first time in 21 years in Sunday's finale.
Boston came into this set having won four of six games, but it hasn't built on the momentum as Minnesota has rallied to consecutive victories.
Joe Mauer hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth off Alfredo Aceves for a 6-4 win Saturday after Pedro Ciriaco broke an eighth-inning tie with a pinch-hit home run for the Red Sox.
The loss came after Boston (53-55) failed to protect a 5-1 lead Friday, losing 6-5 in 10 innings. The Red Sox were shut out in the series opener.
Boston, which has lost four straight overall, has dropped 10 games back of the New York Yankees in the AL East and is five games behind in the wild-card race
"They're all devastating now," Nick Punto said. "You get this late in the season and you look at the standings and we're not really sitting in a great position. Wild card, there's a lot of teams. We can't afford to lose games like that."While the Twins (47-60) have the second-worst record in the AL, they are showing why they can't be taken lightly down the stretch with Mauer and Justin Morneau both hitting well. Minnesota has won seven of nine.
"We're playing good baseball," Mauer said. "We're just fighting. It's been three tough games here in Boston, and we're never out of it. That's the mentality that we have, even since the start of the season, but it's definitely nice to pull it out late."
The Twins haven't recorded a four-game sweep in Boston since July 18-21, 1991.
Carl Crawford , who hit a run-scoring double Saturday after going 3 for 5 Friday, will try to help Boston bounce back Sunday, although he is 1 for 14 against Twins scheduled starter Nick Blackburn (4-6, 7.43 ERA).
Boston turns to Franklin Morales (2-2, 3.32), who starts in place of Josh Beckett after he left Tuesday's start with back spasms.
Morales made five starts earlier this year, going 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA.
The left-hander doesn't have a decision in four career relief appearances against the Twins, including two this season. He's allowed one hit in 1 1-3 innings this year.
He'll try to cool off the Twins. Besides Mauer, Boston's also had trouble with Morneau, who is 8 for 12 with three doubles and three RBIs in the series.
Blackburn was sharp his last time out, giving up two runs and five hits in eight innings of a 4-3 loss to Chicago last Tuesday.
The right-hander is 2-2 with a 4.17 ERA in his career against the Red Sox. He allowed five runs and eight hits in three innings of an 11-2 defeat April 24.
Kelly Shoppach , who went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts Saturday, is 9 for 18 with three homers and two doubles lifetime against Blackburn.
Series
GAME 4
@
Sunday
August 5th
1:35 PM ET
Hitting Leaders
Team Hitting
AVG.265
.265
HR92
125
RUNS472
524
SB87
48
SO688
802
BB343
307
OBP.331
.324
SLG.402
.434
OPS.733
.758
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Jamey Carroll | 3 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .666 | .333 |
| Ryan Doumit | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Joe Mauer | 4 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .500 | .250 |
| Justin Morneau | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Denard Span | 1 | 1.000 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 2.000 | 1.000 |
| Danny Valencia | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | .000 |
| Josh Willingham | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
VS.
| HITTERS | AB | AVG | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | OBP | OPS | SLG |
| Mike Aviles | 11 | .545 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .583 | 1.583 | 1.000 |
| Marlon Byrd | 4 | .500 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 1.000 | .500 |
| Jacoby Ellsbury | 18 | .278 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .316 | .594 | .278 |
| Adrian Gonzalez | 7 | .429 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .500 | .929 | .429 |
| David Ortiz | 12 | .500 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | .600 | 1.433 | .833 |
| Dustin Pedroia | 15 | .267 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .353 | .686 | .333 |
| Cody Ross | 4 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .400 | .650 | .250 |
| Jarrod Saltalamacchia | 3 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Kelly Shoppach | 18 | .500 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 4 | .474 | 1.585 | 1.111 |
| Ryan Sweeney | 15 | .267 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | .353 | .686 | .333 |
| Kevin Youkilis | 17 | .353 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .389 | .860 | .471 |
 Minnesota Twins |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| July 25, 2012 | Anthony Swarzak | 15-Day DL | Mild right rotator cuff strain |
| July 21, 2012 | Trevor Plouffe | 15-Day DL | Bruised right thumb |
| July 17, 2012 | Matt Capps | 15-Day DL | Right rotator cuff irritation |
| June 24, 2012 | Matt Capps | 15-Day DL | Right shoulder inflammation |
| June 24, 2012 | Matt Capps | 15-Day DL | Right shoulder inflammation |
| June 17, 2012 | Joe Mauer | Day-to-Day | Left game - bruised right quadricep |
 Boston Red Sox |
|||
| Date | Player | Status | Injury |
| July 31, 2012 | Ryan Sweeney | 15-Day DL | Fractured left hand |
| July 31, 2012 | Josh Beckett | Day-to-Day | Left game - lower back spasms |
| July 29, 2012 | Daniel Nava | 15-Day DL | Sprained left wrist |
| July 21, 2012 | Mike Aviles | Day-to-Day | Turf toe |
| July 17, 2012 | David Ortiz | 15-Day DL | Right Achilles strain |
| July 14, 2012 | Scott Atchison | 15-Day DL | Right forearm tightness |
Gonzalez, Morales carry Red Sox past Twins, 6-4
BOSTON (AP) -- Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer, Franklin Morales turned in another solid substitute start and the Boston Red Sox averted a four-game sweep with a 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
Gonzalez finished with three RBIs. Carl Crawford added three singles, an RBI and a leaping catch for the Red Sox on his 31st birthday.
The victory snapped Boston's four-game losing streak and salvaged a rough weekend against the AL's second-worst team.
Josh Willingham hit a solo homer, his 28th, and Ryan Doumit a two-shot for the Twins.
Ben Revere extended his career-best hitting streak to 19 games with a single, drove in a run and made a splendid over the shoulder catch for Minnesota.
Morales (3-2), taking Josh Beckett 's turn in the rotation after the right-hander left his previous start with a back spasm, gave up one run on three hits in six innings.
The Red Sox hadn't been swept in a four-game series at home by Minnesota since 1991.
Morales has given up two runs or fewer in five of his six starts this season.
Revere's hitting streak is the longest by a Twins' player since Torii Hunter had a 23-gamer in 2007.
Leading 2-1 with two outs in the fifth, Gonzalez hit a drive into seats above the Green Monster off starter Nick Blackburn (4-7) after Crawford singled.
Cody Ross ' RBI single made it 5-1 in the seventh. Jacoby Ellsbury added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Blackburn's road woes continued, giving up four runs on nine hits in five innings to fall to 17-35 in career road starts.
Revere robbed Jarrod Saltalamacchia , running full speed to the center-field wall to make the grab on the track and then turning to throw to second to complete a double play.
Willingham and Doumit homered off reliever Vicente Padilla in the ninth.
Alfredo Aceves , the losing pitcher Saturday, got the final three outs for his 23rd save.
Boston had jumped in front 2-0 with a pair of runs in the third. Crawford had an run-scoring grounder after Mike Aviles singled and Ellsbury doubled. Gonzalez followed with an RBI single.
Minnesota cut it to 2-1 in the fifth on Revere's sacrifice fly. Alexi Casilla walked, stole second and advanced on Jeremy Carroll's ground out.
Crawford, who wore his uniform pants high with his bright red socks showing nearly to his knees, robbed Doumit with his second-inning catch at the wall.
The two clubs have played seven four-game sets in Fenway Park since the last time the Twins swept a four-game series.
NOTES: During the game the Red Sox acquired Twins 3B Danny Valencia for Class A outfielder Jeremias Pineda. The 27-year old Valencia hit .198 with two homers and 17 RBIs in 34 games with Minnesota this season. He was assigned to Triple-A Pawtucket. Pineda is hitting .421 in 36 Gulf Coast League games. ... OF Willingham was back in the starting lineup after resting Saturday with a right-hander going for Boston. ... Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said "everything is on track" for Beckett to start Wednesday against Texas. ... Boston CF and leadoff hitter Ellsbury returned to the starting lineup after resting what Valentine called a minor leg injury Saturday. ... Red Sox righty Aaron Cook (2-5) faces Japanese star and Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish (11-7) at Fenway on Monday night.
PITCH-BY-PITCH
Minnesota Twins
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