Easily One Of The Worst Losses Of The Year As The Red Sox Were Two-Hit By The Twins

I am in desperate need of more synonyms for mediocre and average. I feel like I use those in every couple posts about the Red Sox this season. Looks like I'll have to consult a dictionary to expand my vocabulary.

Tonight, despite hosting the second-worst team in the American League, the Twins (45-60, 22-28 away) shut out the Red Sox (53-53, 27-30 home) and held them to two hits (a single and double by Adrian Gonzalez).

Jon Lester (5-9) went eight innings (3 earned runs, 7 hits, 7 strikeouts, 0 walks) but he was still outdueled by Minnesota rookie Samuel Deduno (3-0), who pitched six scoreless innings, allowing both hits with one strikeout and four walks. Some might say it's ironic that one of Lester's better outings of the season came in the worst game for the offense.

Casey Fien had a scoreless seventh for the Twins then new closer Glen Perkins picked up his sixth save with a perfect eighth and ninth inning (3 strikeouts).

Boston's slim hopes were flushed down the toilet in the top of the ninth as closer Alfredo Acecves allowed a two-run bomb (5th of the season) to Brian Dozier (3 hits, 2 runs) that made it 5-0.

Denard Span's RBI double and Ben Revere's RBI single (16-game hit streak) in the third gave Minnesota what turned out to be an insurmountable 2-0 lead. Ryan Doumit added an RBI double in the sixth.

Boston will try to avoid its third straight loss and slipping under .500 tomorrow night (7:10 p.m., NESN) as Felix Doubront (10-5) faces Brian Duensing (2-6).

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