Sizzling Twins work to continue run at Red Sox's expense

The Minnesota Twins might lead the majors in high-fives.

Minnesota has won seven of its past eight games, including a 13-6 home victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday night. The Twins have knocked off ace pitchers Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez and most recently Boston's Garrett Crochet in recent days.

First-year Twins manager Derek Shelton said he loves what he is seeing.

"The energy in our dugout, it was palpable," Shelton said after Monday's game. "They were after it, they were into it, and it was really cool to see."

Minnesota will try to keep the good vibes going when it faces the Red Sox in the second installment of a three-game series Tuesday night in Minneapolis. The Twins rank second in the American League with a plus-15 run differential, and the Red Sox are scuffling with 10 losses in their first 16 games.

It's a role reversal based on expectations for both teams in spring training.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora is focused on trying to even the series at one win apiece rather than diagnose any big-picture problems. Cora pulled Crochet after 1 2/3 innings and 11 runs (10 earned) surrendered Monday, which meant the bullpen had to pitch the bulk of the series opener.

"You still have to play seven innings," Cora said. "It sucks. As a manager, it's hard to watch. You're kind of like, ‘OK, when do we take him out?' But at the same time, you still have to cover innings and keep the bullpen quote-unquote fresh knowing that there's two more games in the series.

"We have to turn the page very quick and be ready for (Tuesday)."

Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray (2-0, 2.76 ERA) will try to stabilize the rotation when he takes the mound against his former team. Gray has back-to-back quality starts, and he has walked only three batters in 16 1/3 innings this season.

In 10 career starts against the Twins, Gray is 3-5 with a 5.19 ERA.

Minnesota will counter with right-hander Mick Abel (0-2, 6.08). He will look to build on his best start of the season, when he held the Detroit Tigers to four hits over six shutout innings on Thursday in his team's 3-1 victory. Abel did not get the decision, and he hasn't faced the Red Sox in his career.

The Twins will look to give Abel run support after scoring 11 runs in the first two innings Monday.

Shelton said players felt confident and success was proving to be contagious.

"This group really likes each other," Shelton said. "It's a tight-knit group ... and I think the one thing about it is they all understand their roles and they're all doing a really good job in their roles."

A calm approach at the plate has helped, too.

"I think the biggest thing is they're not rushing through their at-bats," Shelton said. "You look at all those games, there's hits in there, there's home runs, but there's also walks, there's patience.

"They're taking what's coming to them in terms of their plate appearances, and I think when you get on a roll like that, you see them being able to string at-bats together."

--Field Level Media