Pablo López showcased his pitching prowess, tallying eight strikeouts over six solid innings, while Max Kepler’s homer added to the Minnesota Twins’ triumph, extending their victorious streak to an impressive 12 games with a 3-1 victory against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
This streak marks the longest winning spree in the current MLB season. Remarkably, it matches the Twins’ outstanding run from the latter part of the 1980 season, standing as the second-longest streak in Twins history. The franchise’s record for consecutive wins stands at 15, achieved back in June 1991, during their last World Series-winning campaign.
López expressed his delight, stating, “It’s been fun, and I think you are not seeing guys try to do more than we know what to do. That’s always the biggest thing.”
Contributions from Kepler, Willi Castro, and Carlos Correa were instrumental in securing the win. Jhoan Duran and Cole Sands played pivotal roles in closing out the game, with Sands unexpectedly clinching his second save.
Kepler’s home run off Cam Booser in the fourth inning shifted the momentum further in the Twins’ favor. Meanwhile, Castro’s strategic baserunning, coupled with Correa’s sacrifice fly, added crucial runs to solidify their lead.
Manager Rocco Baldelli praised López’s stellar performance, emphasizing the importance of consistent pitching in maintaining their winning streak. López himself acknowledged the team’s momentum, attributing his success to embracing the positive energy.
López’s key strikeouts, including a pivotal one against Rafael Devers, showcased his resilience under pressure. Devers, frustrated by a called strike earlier in the at-bat, expressed his determination to stay focused despite setbacks.
Boston’s struggles were evident as they endured their sixth consecutive game without a home run, their longest drought since April 2022. Despite Dominic Smith’s near miss in the seventh inning, Boston failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, leaving manager Alex Cora seeking solutions to ignite their offense.
In summary, the Minnesota Twins’ stellar performance, led by López’s pitching prowess and Kepler’s offensive contribution, propelled them to victory, extending their winning streak to an impressive 12 games, while the Boston Red Sox grapple with offensive woes, aiming to break their homerless streak and return to winning ways.
