Strong Start Leads Red Sox Past Twins In Thursday Matinee

BOSTON (AP) — Jarren Duran lined one ball off Kenta Maeda’s ankle to knock Minnesota’s starter from the game and in the next inning sent another ball off the Green Monster to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 11-5 victory over Minnesota on Thursday.

Maeda (0-3) allowed a home run to Alex Verdugo to lead off the bottom of the first and left trailing 1-0 after taking Duran’s 111 mph line drive off his ankle in the second inning. The Twins right-hander made the play to get the out at first and end the frame.

Emilio Pagan relieved Maeda and gave up five straight hits, including Duran’s double, as Boston opened a 7-0 lead.

Tanner Houck (3-0) scattered four hits over his first six innings but gave up Willi Castro’s two-run homer in the seventh. He also took Jose Miranda’s line drive off his left foot in he seventh but remained in the game. Houck allowed three runs on six hits and a walk, striking out seven in seven innings — the longest start of his career.