Byron Buxton homered twice and Mick Abel pitched seven sharp innings as the Minnesota Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 6-0 on Tuesday night.
Buxton had four hits and scored four runs, while Brooks Lee also homered for the Twins. Minnesota has won eight of nine.
Abel (1-2), who was acquired from the Phillies at last year's trade deadline for closer Jhoan Duran, allowed four hits, didn't walk a batter and struck out a career-high 10. Boston, which is last in the AL East, was shut out for the first time this season.
"It was outstanding," Twins manager Derek Shelton said of Abel's outing. "I mean, in control the entire game, mixing and matching fastball usage was tremendous. He used the changeup right. Just overall in command of his pitches."
Red Sox starter Sonny Gray (2-1) gave up five runs on nine hits with a walk and a strikeout over four innings.
Luke Keaschall's RBI single in the first inning scored Buxton, who slid in just ahead of the relay throw. Buxton was initially called out, but Twins manager Derek Shelton challenged the call and got it overturned.
Buxton, who hit his first homer of the season on Monday, hit the first pitch of the third inning into the second deck in left field. He added a solo shot in the sixth for the 18th multi-homer game of his career.
Lee led off the fourth by driving a fastball from Gray into the right-field stands. Later in the inning, Trevor Larnach hit a two-run single to give the Twins a 5-0 lead.
"I mean, we created the first run because Buck can really fly and then, you know, he hits the two home runs," Shelton said. Brooks with a good swing, Larnach with a really good swing, and you got to give a ton of credit to Cody Clemens and to Trevor Larnach. I mean, with all left-handers we're seeing, they're not playing really consistent at bats. Love Larnach's hustle on the ball there. So, overall, really, I mean, I know this is being said maybe ad nauseam, but just a team victory, up and down the lineup, we did really, really good things."
Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras left in the fifth with lower back tightness.
Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox hits a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning of the game at Target Field on April 13, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Jarren Duran directs obscene gesture toward fan
Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran directed an obscene gesture toward a fan at Target Field as he returned to the dugout after a fifth-inning groundout in Boston's 6-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.
Duran, who has spoken about his past struggles with mental health, said a fan made a personal comment that crossed the line.
“Somebody just told me to kill myself,” Duran said. “I’m used to it at this point, you know? I mean, (expletive) happens. I mean, I’m gonna flip somebody off if they say something to me, but it is what it is. I shouldn’t react like that, but that kind of stuff is still kind of triggering.”
Duran discussed bouts with severe depression and a suicide attempt in a Netflix series that debuted last year.
“Honestly, it’s my fault for talking about my mental health because I kind of brought in the haters. So I've just got to get used to it,” Duran said. “I was just trying to hold it in and not really bring that up to the team. I mean, we’re trying to win a game. I shouldn’t even bring that up to anybody. ... It just happens.”
Boston manager Alex Cora said he didn't witness the incident and hadn't reviewed video of it.
Boston Red Sox (6-11, fifth in the AL East) vs. Minnesota Twins (11-7, first in the AL Central)
Minneapolis; Wednesday, 12:40 p.m. Pregame at noon on 830 WCCO, 102.9 The Wolf, and via the Audacy App (in-market only)
PITCHING PROBABLES: Red Sox: Connelly Early (0-0, 2.63 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 15 strikeouts); Twins: Simeon Woods Richardson (0-2, 4.60 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, eight strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Red Sox -136, Twins +114; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins take on the Boston Red Sox after Byron Buxton had four hits against the Red Sox on Tuesday.
Minnesota has gone 7-2 at home and 11-7 overall. The Twins have a 7-0 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.
Boston is 6-11 overall and 3-8 in road games. The Red Sox are 1-4 in games decided by one run.
The teams meet Wednesday for the third time this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Josh Bell has five doubles, three home runs and 14 RBIs for the Twins. Buxton is 12 for 42 with two doubles, three home runs and three RBIs over the last 10 games.
Wilyer Abreu has three home runs, five walks and 10 RBIs while hitting .333 for the Red Sox. Willson Contreras is 13 for 34 with two doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 8-2, .258 batting average, 3.60 ERA, outscored opponents by 23 runs
Red Sox: 4-6, .243 batting average, 4.55 ERA, outscored by one run
INJURIES: Twins: Cody Laweryson: 15-Day IL (forearm), Royce Lewis: 10-Day IL (knee), David Festa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Travis Adams: 15-Day IL (tricep), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Red Sox: Johan Oviedo: 60-Day IL (elbow), Justin Slaten: 15-Day IL (oblique), Patrick Sandoval: 15-Day IL (elbow), Kutter Crawford: 15-Day IL (wrist), Triston Casas: 10-Day IL (knee), Romy Gonzalez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tanner Houck: 60-Day IL (elbow)
