BOSTON — J.D. Martinez hit his major league-leading 32nd homer, Mookie Betts had two RBI doubles and the Boston Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 10-4 on Saturday night for their 17th win in 21 games.
Betts raised his MLB-leading average to .346, and Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run triple for the Red Sox. They have a 5 1/2-game lead over the New York Yankees atop the AL East and own the majors’ best record at 73-33.
Logan Morrison hit a solo homer for the Twins, a night after they appeared to throw in the towel a bit in pursuit of a playoff spot with a pair of trades that sent away infielder Eduardo Escobar and reliever Ryan Pressly.
Boston starter Rick Porcello (13-4) labored through 5 2/3 innings on a steamy night, giving up four runs on five hits, striking out five and walking one. Jake Odorizzi (4-7) gave up five runs on nine hits in five innings.
Trailing 4-1, Boston scored three times in the fourth, then moved ahead on Martinez’s shot that left Fenway Park over the Green Monster seats in the fifth.
Bradley’s triple went off the center-field wall over the glove of leaping outfielder Jake Cave, and he scored on Betts’ double down the left-field line. Betts’ other double came in a four-run eighth.
The Twins moved ahead 4-1 in the third. Jorge Polanco had a two-run triple and scored on Brian Dozier’s single.
Morrison’s homer tied it after Mitch Moreland’s RBI single pushed Boston ahead.
AWAY
Twins manager and Hall of Famer Paul Molitor left the team to attend the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Cooperstown, New York, on Sunday. Bench coach Derek Shelton ran the club.
HERE
Derek Falvey, Twins vice president, and GM Thad Levine got into town Saturday and were on the field discussing the trades and their thoughts nearing the non-waiver trading deadline.
They understand they may have not been welcome after the moves, but felt they needed to be here.
“That’s part of the reason why we’re here today,” Falvey said. “We understand that we may not have been received with open arms, but we’re the path forward from this day forward with what the complexion of the Minnesota Twins looks like. We want to be accountable for those decisions.”
FILM SESSION
Struggling Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly did a side session in the bullpen about a half hour before BP started, with the club video taping his work, hoping to find answers for his recent woes that’s seen his ERA balloon from 2.61 in mid-June to 4.79 entering the game.
He pitched a scoreless ninth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
The Twins recalled Miguel Sano from Triple-A Rochester to fill one of the roster spots opened by the trades. The third baseman was sent to the minors for more than six weeks to work on his conditioning.
Red Sox left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (10-day disabled list, sprained right ankle) was set to see a specialist later Saturday. The lefty looked to be in good spirits on the field before batting practice, walking around and chatting with Sano. … Moreland returned after missing the previous two games because of a sore left knee, but Rafael Devers limped off in the eighth inning after running the bases.
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