MINNEAPOLIS – Jonny Gomes hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to lift the Boston Red Sox to another comeback victory, 3-2 over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.

The Red Sox have won three straight after losing 10 of their previous 14 games, while the Twins have lost three in a row after winning six of nine.

Twins reliever Josh Roenicke (1-1) gave up a single and a walk to open the 10th. After a sacrifice bunt, Stephen Drew was intentionally walked to load the bases. Then Gomes sent a drive to center field, where Aaron Hicks caught the ball but double-clutched on his throw and didn’t have a chance to get the speedy Dustin Pedroia.

Alex Wilson (1-0) picked up the victory by getting the last out of the ninth and Koji Uehara threw a perfect 10th for his first save, with closers Joel Hanrahan and Andrew Bailey both on the disabled list.

The night before at Tampa Bay, Will Middlebrooks hit a three-run double in the ninth to give Boston a 4-3 win.

Pedro Florimon hit a two-run homer off Red Sox ace Clay Buchholz, just the second time the right-hander was taken deep this season.

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Buchholz struck out nine batters over seven innings, including five in a row spanning the first and second frames, but he was stuck with a no-decision for the third straight start and couldn’t match Tampa Bay’s Matt Moore with the second 7-0 record in the majors this year. Buchholz’s ERA, second-lowest among American League qualifiers, actually rose nine points to 1.78.

Florimon also had a hand in three double plays induced over six innings by Twins starter Vance Worley, who gave up just one unearned run. The shortstop made a slick pivot and quick throw to end the third and the fifth on grounders hit by Pedroia.

Florimon had a chance to start a fourth, with Brian Duensing pitching in the seventh, but Jacoby Ellsbury’s sharp bouncer glanced off his glove as he tried to make a sliding stop. The ball rolled into center field for a single, and Gomes — who led off with a walk — scored to tie the game at 2.

Worley could’ve easily held the Red Sox scoreless. Second baseman Brian Dozier’s off-balance, desperate throw in the first inning soared into the seats for an error to turn Daniel Nava’s infield single into two bases. He scored with two outs on the first of three singles by David Ortiz.

NOTE: Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer was out of the lineup because of a stiff back. … Boston right fielder Shane Victorino was also out as a precaution after hurting his back the night before at Tampa Bay.

 


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