What else could Terry Francona possibly want on his 50th birthday? The Red Sox completed a day-night doubleheader sweep of the Minnesota Twins slugging out 17 runs, 19 hits and 4 homers.
Boston also improved their winning streak to seven games.
Tim Wakefield earned back-to-back complete game victories in the day portion of the doubleheader throwing seven innings in the rain-shortened game on five hits, one run, one walk and four strikeouts.
Wakefield is the second oldest pitcher to throw back-to-back complete games since Charlie Hough in 1992. Hough was also a knuckleballer for another pair of Sox. The Chicago White Sox.
Kevin Youkilis (4), Nick Green (1) and Mike Lowell (3) all went deep in the win.
Game 2
Brad Penny made up for a poor start against the Baltimore Orioles earning his second win of the season (2-0) on six innings pitched, six hits, three runs — two earned — one walk and two strikeouts.
Jeff Bailey connected for a three-run homer in the second — Boston’s fourth homer in the doubleheader — to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead. David Ortiz broke the game open to a 5-0 lead with a two-RBI double to deep left field scoring Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia.
Boston held on for the win sending in Jonathan Papelbon in a non-save situation in the ninth inning. Paps went 1-2-3 with two foul outs and a ground out.
Stars of the Game — Offense
The Red Sox have outscored their opponents 31-6 in the last four games.
Next Game – Day off
It’s much needed after this doubleheader considering the New York Yankees come to town on Friday night.
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