Crazy Eights
Eight unanswered runs, eight punchouts by their starter — the Twins wrapped up the inaugural series at their new park with a resounding victory.
When the home team’s lead widened to four runs in the fifth inning it was as if the switch controlling the Red Sox players’ competitive drive was flicked to the off position. Early in the game the Boston squad played with a purpose. In the second inning Marco Scutaro chased down a ball that had eluded Adrian Beltre’s glove, far from the area a shortstop would normally patrol. Scutaro turned and fired to first to convert Michael Cuddyer’s potential base hit to an out.
By the time sixth inning rolled around such defensive crispness abandoned the visitors. J.J. Hardy reached on Beltre’s first error the season, an errant throw that pulled Kevin Youkilis off the bag. Nick Punto roped a single to left and Denard Span followed with a line drive of his own to right.
J.D. Drew returned the ball to the infield in time for his team to erase the greedy Punto from the basepaths but Victor Martinez inexplicably threw to the keystone sack instead of third. Although Span was credited with a double on the scoresheet, those tidy figures belie the Red Sox defense’s disarray.
With both Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury shelved due to injury Bill Hall was pressed into service in the outfield. His second-inning fielding error on Hardy’s ground ball to center allowed Jim Thome and his piano to score from third, Jason Kubel to motor from first to third, and Hardy to continue on to second base.
While the Red Sox didn’t do much to honor the 42 on their backs, the Twins were outstanding on both sides of the ball. Jackie Robinson would be proud.
| Game 9: April 15, 2010 | ||
| Red Sox 4-5 | 0 | L: Tim Wakefield (0-1) |
| 2B: Victor Martinez (4) | ||
 Twins7-3 | 8 | W: Francisco Liriano (1-0) |
| 2B: Orlando Hudson (3), Nick Punto – 2 (2), Denard Span – 2 (3) HR: Michael Cuddyer (2) | ||
