MINNEAPOLIS — Boston Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes was thinking about one thing when he faced rookie Max Kepler in the 10th inning on Sunday – get a strikeout.

Not only was Barnes unable to do that, he couldn’t even keep the ball in the park.

Minnesota's Max Kepler hits a three-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning off Boston reliever Matt Barnes to give the Twins a 7-4 win Sunday in Minneapolis. The Associated Press

Kepler’s first major league homer was a three-run shot that gave the Minnesota Twins a 7-4 victory.

Joe Mauer drew a leadoff walk in the 10th from Barnes (2-3) and was sacrificed to second by Trevor Plouffe. Brian Dozier singled off the glove of shortstop Xander Bogaerts, sending Mauer to third.

Boston brought in outfielder Mookie Betts and played with a five-man infield, but Kepler made that all moot when the rookie from Germany sent a long drive to center field to give Minnesota its fifth walk-off win of the season.

“In a situation like that, I’m 100 percent going for a strikeout,” Barnes said.

Barnes hadn’t allowed an extra-base hit in his last nine appearances and had a 2.31 ERA with a .181 opponents’ batting average in his last 18 games.

Red Sox Manager John Farrell went with Barnes, even though closer Craig Kimbrel was warm, to save Kimbrel for a potential save opportunity.

“The way our bullpen has been pitching, confidence in every guy that came to the mound,” Farrell said. “Unfortunately, that didn’t work out for us. We’re in an 0-2 situation with multiple chances to put Kepler away in that particular spot – didn’t work out.”

Boston starter Rick Porcello allowed four runs, one earned, and five hits in seven innings.

Bogaerts, who had four hits in each of the first two games of the three-game series, made two errors after entering the game with only two all season.

“Not the cleanest game by us by any means,” Farrell said. “I thought Rick was very strong today. He was efficient with his pitch count.”

Miscues on defense marked big innings for both teams. Boston’s three-run eighth was aided by two Minnesota throwing errors.

Bogaerts misplayed a tough hop in the second inning and then hesitated on a throw to first with two outs in the sixth, bouncing the throw. The Twins wound up scoring twice.

“The first one was a bit tough, kind of do-or-die,” Bogaerts said. “That was a bit tough, but the other one was kind of unacceptable. That was an easy out right there.”

BUNTING SHAW

Slumping third baseman Travis Shaw didn’t start against Twins left-hander Pat Dean. Right-handed hitter Josh Rutledge started as Farrell looked to give Shaw a break against lefties.

Shaw entered in the seventh as a pinch hitter and struck out. In the ninth, he was asked to bunt following Dustin Pedroia’s leadoff single. The bunt went straight to pitcher Fernando Abad, who turned to second and started a double play.

“I can understand it,” Shaw said about getting the bunt sign. “I don’t think I got a hit the whole road trip, so it’s a decent spot to do it. I’ve still got to execute.”

Shaw finished the road trip 1 for 18 and is hitting .170 in 22 games since May 18.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Farrell said Brock Holt has made “steady progress” in his recovery from a concussion and could return during the team’s 10-game homestand. Farrell said Holt is taking medication to control headaches.

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