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Manny's 498th HR Not Enough As Red Sox Fall To Twins

POSTED: 11:42 pm EDT May 12, 2008

(Sports Network) - Delmon Young finished 2-for-4 with two RBI as Minnesota overcame an early three-run deficit to top Boston, 7-3, in the finale of a four-game set from the Metrodome.

Craig Monroe also drove in two runs for the Twins, who took three of four over the weekend series and have won four of six overall. Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer added an RBI each.

Livan Hernandez (6-1) cruised to the win despite early trouble, allowing 10 hits and three runs over six full frames.

Manny Ramirez launched his 498th career home run, a two-run blast, for the Red Sox, who have dropped four of six since a five-game win streak.

Starter Clay Buchholz (2-3) took the loss for Boston.He was charged with eight hits and seven runs in just 4 1/3 innings, fanning four, but issuing five walks.

"I felt great from the start, my fastball was good and tried the off-speed stuff that's been good from the start of the year, and they were all over it," Buchholz said. "They were sitting on every first-ball pitch I made."

The Twins put together a three-run fifth inning to take control of the contest.

Joe Mauer led off with a walk and went to third on a Cuddyer one-out single. Both men scored on Monroe's double for a 6-3 Minnesota lead, and when Young followed with a single, it was a four-run bulge for the home team.

Javier Lopez entered for Buchholz and rescued the Sox by inducing a double play from Mike Lamb to end the frame.

After the early onslaught, Hernandez did not allow a Red Sox runner past second base. Juan Rincon hurled two hitless innings and Jesse Crain finished the game with a scoreless ninth despite allowing hits to Alex Cora and Dustin Pedroia.

"There may be new characters in the clubhouse who contribute, but it's the same philosophy," Cuddyer noted about the atmosphere surrouding the team in the early going. "We're never gonna give up and we're gonna play until the game's over. To come back in a big series again was nice.

Boston got rolling in its first at-bat, as Coco Crisp led off with a double and scored two batters later on a David Ortiz base hit. Ramirez followed with an opposite field blast to right to make it 3-0, leaving him two shy of the 500 mark.

Minnesota countered in the home half with a pair of runs. Brendan Harris and Mauer reached with back-to-back one out singles, then scored on a hit by Morneau to the gap in right-center. J.D. Drew's mishandling of the ball allowed Morneau to reach second, but he was stranded as Cuddyer flew out and Young struck out.

Cuddyer's run-scoring single and Young's RBI groundout in the third pushed the Twins ahead by one, and Buchholz was saved from further damage when Lamb hit into an inning-ending double play.

Game Notes

Ramirez's two RBI gave him 1,630 for his career, moving him ahead of Harold Baines for sole possession of 26th place on the all-time list...Prior to the contest, the Sox activated first baseman Sean Casey off the 15-day disabled list and cleared room on the roster by designating pitcher Julian Tavarez for assignment. Casey singled in four at-bats...Minnesota has won 10 of its last 11 home games and improved to 14-7 as the host this year...Boston concludes its road trip with the first of a two-game set in Baltimore on Tuesday, while Minnesota welcomes Toronto on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series.

MLB Headlines

MLB
David Murphy went 3-for-6 with a three-run home run to help the Texas Rangers squeak by the Baltimore Orioles, 11-10, in the rubber match of a three-game set. The day four offensive players for the Rangers were named to the All-Star team, the club rattled off 14 hits, including three apiece from Ian Kinsler and Ramon Vazquez. Kevin Millwood (6-4) won his seventh straight start against the Orioles despite being touched for five runs -- three earned -- on nine hits through five innings for Texas, which has won five of its last seven. C.J. Wilson served up two homers in the ninth but still came away with his 21st save. Baltimore's Kevin Millar was 4-for-4 with a double and solo home run, while Nick Markakis hit a three-run homer during a 3-for-5 effort at the plate, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games. Brian Roberts and Melvin Mora also hit home runs in the loss. Radhames Liz (3-1) was pounded for six runs -- four earned -- in just 3 2/3 innings for the Orioles, who have fallen in three of their last four games. Jim Johnson only recorded two outs in relief and gave up four runs.


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