They could also use a solid outing from starter Connelly Early. In dropping the first two games of the series, Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray combined to go just 5⅔ innings, allowing 16 runs on 18 hits. In his most recent outing, Early lasted just 4⅓ innings in a 3-2 loss at St. Louis.
After today’s game, the Red Sox will have Thursday off before opening a seven-game homestand against the Tigers and Yankees. A four-game series with Detroit begins Friday.
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RED SOX (6-11): Anthony RF, Rafaela CF, Yoshida DH, Story SS, Duran LF, Monasterio 1B, Mayer 2B, Wong C, Kiner-Falefa 3B.
Pitching: LHP Connelly Early (0-0, 2.63 ERA)
TWINS (11-7): Buxton CF, Martin LF, Keaschall 2B, Jeffers C, Bell 1B, Caratini DH, Wallner RF, Lee SS, Kreidler 3B.
Pitching: RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (0-2, 4.60 ERA)
Time: 1:40 p.m.
TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
Red Sox vs. Woods Richardson: Wilyer Abreu 1-2, Roman Anthony 1-1, Jarren Duran 1-3, Caleb Durbin 0-2, Isiah Kiner-Falefa 3-4, Carlos Narváez 0-2, Ceddanne Rafaela 0-2, Trevor Story 0-3, Masataka Yoshida 1-3
Twins vs. Early: Tristan Gray 0-2
Stat of the day: The Red Sox are batting .231, with a .315 on-base percentage and a .345 slugging percentage
Notes: Early is making his first appearance against the Twins. … First baseman Willson Contreras left Tuesday’s game in the fifth inning with tightness in his lower back and is not in the lineup. He is batting .298 with a .444 on-base percentage, three home runs and 11 RBIs in 17 games. … Tuesday’s loss was the first time the Red Sox were shut out this season. … The Twins have won four in a row and eight of their last nine. … Richardson has a 5.79 ERA in one outing against the Red Sox. He pitched 4⅔ innings and did not get a decision in a game the Twins won, 5-4, last July.
Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney.
