Jeremy Hermida came over to the Boston Red Sox with no idea how much playing time he’d receive during the 2010 season. But with Jacoby Ellsbury on the shelf with bruised ribs, Hermida has been making the most of his time.
Hermida’s 3-run double in the 8th inning was the difference as the Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 6-3 in front of 38,164 at Target Field on Wednesday afternoon.
The Red Sox get back to .500 (4-4) with the win while the Twins fall to 6-3.
John Lackey started this one for the Red Sox and didn’t have the best of outings but he was still good enough to pick up his first win in a Red Sox uniform. He struggled with his curveball as he uncharateristically walked four batters. He allowed two runs on seven hits and those four walks with two strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
Hideki Okajima walked one in an a 1/3 of an inning while Daniel Bard struggled in his inning. He gave up a run on two hits. Despite walking two, Jonathan Papelbon picked up his third save of the season.
The top three in the Red Sox line up all had two hits as Marco Scutaro, Dustin Pedroia and Victor Martinez had two hits. Pedroia had two RBIs, one on a double and one on his team-leading fourth home run of the season. Scutaro also added an RBI.
David Ortiz continues to struggle as he struck again two more times but did manage a double.
The Red Sox got out of the gates quickly in the 1st as Scutaro led off with a single and came home on Pedroia’s double which was misplayed by left fielder Delmon Young. Scutaro’s RBI single in the 2nd gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead.
The Twins tied it up in the 3rd on back-to-back hits by Orlando Hudson and Joe Mauer but Pedroia’s home run in the 5th gave the Red Sox the lead back.
Hermida’s bases clearing double in the 8th pushed the Red Sox lead to 6-2. Bard would allow a solo home run to Michael Cuddyer in the 8th but that would end the scoring for the afternoon at new Target Field.
The Red Sox will look to take the series on Thursday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. when Tim Wakefield and Francisco Liriano square off on the bump.
