BOSTON
Manny Ramirez hit a game-tying two-run homer as part of a four-run eighth inning rally to help the Boston Red Sox edge the Minnesota Twins 6-5 last night.
It was the second straight game Ramirez came through in the eighth inning to rally the Red Sox. His 17th homer of the season on Tuesday came off Twins reliever Matt Guerrier (4-4) and tied the game 5-5.
One out after Ramirez's home run, Kevin Youkilis doubled and Brandon Moss slapped a single up the middle for the go-ahead run.
David Aardsma (3-2) got the final two outs in the eighth for the win. Jonathan Papelbon escaped trouble in the ninth for his 27th save.
Ramirez drove home Boston's only run in a 1-0 victory on an RBI single Monday night against Minnesota.
Last night, Boston trailed 5-2 going into the eighth. Jacoby Ellsbury doubled, Dustin Pedroia singled and J.D. Drew's RBI fielder's choice narrowed the gap to 5-3 before Ramirez's homer.
Nick Punto led off the ninth for Minnesota with a double and went to third on Denard Span's sacrifice. Papelbon then struck out pinch-hitter Jason Kubel before getting Alexi Casilla to groundout and end the game.
Boston starter Jon Lester allowed five runs and nine hits in 71/3 innings.
Nick Blackburn pitched 62/3 innings allowing two runs and six hits for Minnesota.
Despite the loss, the Twins starting pitching improved to 16-1 in the past 23 games with an ERA of 2.99. Minnesota snapped a 13-inning scoring drought and Lester's 12 inning shutout streak when they scored three with two out in the fourth inning highlighted by a two-run triple by Brendan Harris giving the Twins a 2-1 lead.
MIN. ab r h bi BOS. ab r h bi
CaGmz cf 4 0 0 0 Ellsbry cf 4 2 2 0
Kubel ph 1 0 0 0 Pedroia 2b 4 1 2 0
ACslla 2b 3 0 0 0 JDrew rf 4 0 1 2
Mauer c 4 1 1 0 Crisp cf 0 0 0 0
Mrneau 1b 3 0 2 0 MRmrz dh 4 1 1 2
Monroe dh 4 1 0 0 Lowell 3b 4 0 0 0
DYong lf 4 1 2 1 Yukilis 1b 4 2 3 0
BHarrs 3b 4 2 2 2 Moss lf 3 0 1 2
Punto ss 4 0 2 1 Lugo ss 4 0 1 0
Span rf 3 0 2 1 Cash c 2 0 0 0
Casey ph 0 0 0 0
JBaily ph 1 0 0 0
Totals 34 5 11 5 Totals 34 6 11 6
Minnesota 000 300 110 -- 5
Boston 100 000 14x -- 6
E--Lowell (6). DP--Boston 2. LOB--Minnesota 6, Boston 5. 2B--BHarris (14), Punto (7), Ellsbury (10), JDrew (17), Youkilis (24). 3B--BHarris (2), Youkilis (4). HR--MRamirez (17). SB--Moss (1). CS--CaGomez (9), Punto (2). S--Span. SF--Moss.
Minnesota IP H R ER BB SO
Blackburn 62/3 6 2 2 0 2
DReyes 1/3 1 1 1 0 1
Guerrier L,4-4 1 4 3 3 0 2
Boston IP H R ER BB SO
Lester 71/3 9 5 5 3 6
Aardsma W,3-2 2/3 1 0 0 0 0
Papelbon S,27 1 1 0 0 0 1
T--2:51. A--37,925 (37,400).
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