BOSTON -- Takeaways from a doubleheader that featured strong pitching performances by rookies on either side, 22-year-old Eduardo Rodriguez shining in his home debut in a 6-3 win for the Red Sox Wednesday afternoon; 25-year-old Trevor May shutting down the Red Sox with two relievers in the Twins’ 2-0 win in the nightcap:
The Red Sox took the first two games of the series against the Twins, but by losing the nightcap failed to win three in a row, something they haven’t done since the first week of the season. They’ve had five streaks of three losses or more this season, with four the season high.
The Sox were shut out for the fourth time this season, well off the pace set by the San Diego Padres, who have been blanked nine times. Tampa Bay leads the AL in shutouts with six. This was their first shutout at home this season.
This was the 22nd time the Sox have been held to two runs or fewer. That’s 40.7 percent of the 54 games they’ve played. They’re 5-17 in those games. The Tigers, despite ranking second in the league in hitting (.272 coming in), have been held to two or fewer runs in a major league leading 26 games, one more than Milwaukee.
This was the 10th time the Sox have been held to five or fewer hits. They’re 3-7 in those games.
Wednesday night’s loss was the first time this season the Sox played a game in which neither side issued a walk. Rick Porcello did not walk a batter in his eight innings for the Sox. The Twins' May did not walk a batter in his seven innings.“He was very good,’’ Sox manager John Farrell said of May. “He didn’t miss over the middle of the plate, and when he did, we fouled some pitches off. Seemingly, and particularly today, there’s really no opportunity to work the counts. You’ve got to swing the bat. Both sides pitched to a very big strike zone, and you’ve got to be aggressive.’’
May threw 19 of 23 first-pitch strikes, and went to a three-ball count on just three hitters, once each against Mike Napoli, David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia, retiring all three.
Porcello gave up a double to Brian Dozier to lead off the game, but stranded him at third by striking out Joe Mauer and Trevor Plouffe, both on 95-mph fastballs.The Twins scored both of their runs in the second, one scoring on Chris Herrmann’s double, the other on a safety squeeze executed by Danny Santana. Counting the bunt, Porcello faced the minimum of 20 batters through the eighth, allowing only one more hit, a single by Torii Hunter, who was erased on a double play in the sixth. But he could not avoid his third straight loss and has won just once in his past five decisions.
Porcello took a broader view of how the rotation has performed. “Everybody is throwing the ball well,’’ he said. “Honestly, not including myself, the last two weeks everybody has been throwing pretty well.’’
He also had words of praise for Rodriguez. “He’s got great stuff. I think the biggest thing is the ability to throw strikes. Young lefties who throw hard like that a lot of times are wild. He comes out, hits both sides of the plate with his fastball, and it’s fun to watch.’’
Rodriguez threw 77 of his 103 pitches for strikes, or 75 percent. All 16 of the sliders he threw to right-handed batters were strikes, 11 swinging.
Napoli hit his ninth home run in the first game, and his sixth home run in his past 15 games. He also struck out in all three at-bats in the nightcap while batting cleanup. It was the fourth time he has had three or more K’s in a game this season, which leads the team.
Mookie Betts was dropped to the No. 7 spot in the order Wednesday night, the first time this season he has not led off or batted second. Betts went 0-for-3, striking out twice, after going hitless in four trips in the first game. His 0-for-7 day made him 3 for his past 22 since a three-hit game against the Rangers last Thursday.
Pablo Sandoval, who sat out the first game, struck out and popped out twice in the nightcap. In his past 18 games, Sandoval is batting .125 (7 for 56), dropping his overall average to .244. If it’s any comfort, last season Sandoval was batting .240 on June 7 for the Giants, then posted a slash line of .304/.346/.423/770 over his last 96 games.
Hanley Ramirez had two singles, an RBI and a stolen base in the first game, his fourth two-hit game in his past six games. He took a called third strike from Twins closer Glen Perkins as a pinch hitter to end the nightcap.
Red Sox CEO Larry Luchhino said his involvement with the Boston Olympic bid will mostly be limited to the Red Sox offseason. He has been spending a good deal of time recently in Pawtucket, after the death of his partner in the PawSox ownership group, James Skeffington.
There was no announcement, but outfielder Carlos Peguero was called into manager John Farrell’s office after Wednesday night’s game for a meeting with the manager and GM Ben Cherington. Peguero was cut loose to make room for outfielder Alejandro De Aza, who was acquired from Baltimore Wednesday and is expected to arrive in time for Thursday afternoon’s game. Peguero played in Ramirez’s place in left field Wednesday night and recorded five putouts, a couple that were adventuresome. He also had one of Boston’s two hits in the nightcap.
Pedroia’s four-hit game in the opener was his first of the season and seventh by a Sox player this season. Sandoval and Xander Bogaerts have two each; Ramirez and Brock Holt have the others.It was the 19th four-hit game by Pedroia since he became an everyday player in 2007, most of any Sox player. Wade Boggs has the most four-hit games in Sox history, 50.
