Rafaela and Devers homer as Red Sox beat Twins 9-2 to end Minnesota's 12-game winning streak

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela hit the first Red Sox home run in seven games, Rafael Devers added another, and Boston ended Minnesota’s 12-game winning streak by beating the Twins 9-2 on Sunday.

Vaughn Grissom and Dominic Smith had two-run doubles, and Boston ended a three-game slide in which it scored just four runs.

Boston Red Sox’s Ceddanne Rafaela celebrates his two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

“Losing two out of three here (stinks), but winning this one is very gratifying. It took a total team effort,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Cooper Criswell throws to the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Ryan Jeffers homered and Trevor Larnach had an RBI single for Minnesota.

The Twins’ 12-game winning streak was tied for the second-longest in team history behind a 15-win run in June 1991, the last season Minnesota won the World Series.

“It did feel like every time an opportunity arose in the past 12 games, it felt like we were always coming through,” said Carlos Correa. “Today was just one of the days that we’re not able to do that. But at the same time, looking at the big picture, it’s been a couple of good weeks. We’ve just got to keep going. It’s a fun team.”

With one out in the fifth, Rafaela hit a full count offering from Joe Ryan into the first row of the left center field seats for a two-run home run and a 3-1 lead. Rafaela hit the team’s previous round-tripper in last Saturday’s 17-0 win over the Cubs.

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan throws to the Boston Red Sox in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

“I was just focusing to hit the ball and then good things happen,” said Rafaela, who played some old-school pepper before the game with hitting coach Pete Fatse to better get the barrel on the ball.

“He’s such a good athlete that he will,” Cora said.

Grissom had a two-run double for a 5-1 eighth-inning lead. Smith, the next batter, added a two-run double with the ball going off the glove of Manuel Margot who was battling the sun on a cloudless 69-degree afternoon.

Boston Red Sox’s Ceddanne Rafaela hits a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

It was Grissom’s first hit with Boston. Acquired in the offseason Chris Sale trade with Atlanta, Grissom started the year on the injured list and made his team debut Friday.

Devers hit a two-run shot in the ninth.

Boston starter Cooper Criswell, who threw five shutout innings in each of his last two starts, allowed one earned run and struck out five in 4 1/3 innings, but needed 80 pitches to do so.

Minnesota Twins’ Ryan Jeffers watches his solo home run against the Boston Red Sox in the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Brennan Bernardino (1-1), the first of five Red Sox relievers, earned the win.

Boston Red Sox’s Rob Refsnyder, right, beats a tag by Minnesota Twins second baseman Edouard Julien for an RBI double in the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Tossing his team-high fifth quality start of the season, Ryan (1-2) allowed four hits and three earned runs while striking out five.

With the season’s second-largest home crowd of 29,638 in attendance, Jeffers hit a solo home run in the third inning for a 1-0 lead, a frame after Minnesota had a golden opportunity for some early damage.

Minnesota Twins third baseman Jose Miranda, right, tags Boston Red Sox’s Reese McGuire who was attempting to steal third in the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. Initially called out, the umpires determined McGuire was safe upon review. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Max Kepler, Correa and Larnach each singled to start the Minnesota second, but Criswell struck out Willi Castro and Carlos Santana before Jose Miranda hit a harmless bouncer back to Criswell.

“There are moments where if you’re able to do something, they really are tipping points, turning points. We’ve been doing it, today we just didn’t do it,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli.

Boston Red Sox’s Ceddanne Rafaela runs the bases on a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: LF Rob Refsnyder left the game in the fifth inning with left hamstring tightness. Cora said he doesn’t think it will result in a stint on the injured list.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela (43) and second baseman Vaughn Grissom, right, celebrate their win over the Minnesota Twins in a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

UP NEXT

Red Sox: RHP Kutter Crawford (2-1, 1.56 ERA) gets the start Tuesday in Atlanta. The Braves plan to start RHP Reynaldo Lopez (2-1, 1.50).

Boston Red Sox’s Dominic Smith hits a two-run double against the Minnesota Twins in the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Twins: Start a four-game home series Monday with the Mariners. RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0, 2.45) is the scheduled Twins starter against Seattle RHP Luis Castillo (3-4, 3.46).

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