The Boston Red Sox became the first team in Major League history to have back-to-back home runs in extra innings after being shutout in the first nine innings of the game. The Red Sox prevailed over the Minnesota Twins 2-1 in 10 innings.
Designated hitter David Ortiz and first baseman Mike Napoli delivered the heroics in the 10th. With Boston trailing 1-0, Ortiz came to the plate with one out. After fouling four pitches off, he smacked a 340-foot home run to right field.
Napoli came up next, and fell behind in the count 0-2. He then unloaded on a pitch from Minnesota reliever Casey Fien and drove it 407 feet into the center field stands.
“I took two aggressive swings early in the count,” Napoli said after the game on MLB.com. “I know he likes to elevate the ball, and I got a pitch up and drove it.”
In the top of the 10th inning, Minnesota right fielder Chris Parmelee smacked a homer to right center field off of Boston closer Koji Uehara, reports ESPN.
In the first nine innings of the game, neither team produced much offense. The Red Sox were held to one hit, while the Twins managed only three.
John Lackey went nine innings for the Red Sox, giving up three hits and striking out nine. Twins starter Kyle Gibson pitched seven innings of one hit ball; he fanned eight.
The Red Sox swept the series, taking all three games by one run. They will travel to Oakland for a matchup with the A’s on Thursday, while the Twins will return home and welcome the Chicago White Sox to Target Field.