On a night where Johan Santana Julian Tavarez had his best stuff, the Red Sox bats decided to go cold when they had runners on base. They stranded 12 runners on base and the Twins bullpen preserved the lead it was given and they beat the Sox 2-1.
Santana was awful on Saturday. The Sox got to him for seven hits but only a Dustin Pedroia double down the left field line in the 4th that scored Wily Mo Peña was the only run the Sox could score. Santana ended up going a season low 5 innings, allowing the 7 hits and 1 run while walking 2 and striking out 6 Sox batters.
Tavarez did get into some trouble in the 2nd inning when both Twinkies runs crossed the plate. Torii Hunter led off the inning with a ground out to Pedroia. The reigning AL MVP, Justin Morneau, hit a single, the only ball that Tavarez allowed out of the infield. He then walked Jason Kubel and Jeff Cirillo to load the bases up. Light hitting Jason Tyner grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Morneau. Jason Bartlett then drove in the winning run with an infield single to Mike Lowell at 3rd base.
Overall though, Tavarez was outstanding. He went 6 innings, allowing only 4 hits, and the 2 runs. He did walk 3 Twins and struck out 7. Joel Piñero came in and pitched two perfect innings.
After Santana left the game, it was all about the Twins bullpen. Four Twins relievers combined to pitch 4 shutout innings, allowing no hits. They did walk 4 and also struck out 4 with Joe Nathan coming in to finish the Red Sox off.
Pedroia and the hot hitting Manny Ramirez both managed to get two hits each off Santana.
