Twins eager to keep offense clicking in opener vs. Red Sox

The Minnesota Twins return home feeling good.

They completed a brief road trip Sunday with back-to-back wins against the Toronto Blue Jays and have won six of their past seven games heading into the opener Monday night of a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox in Minneapolis.

Minnesota has scored at least four runs in six of its past seven games and will look to stay hot on offense as the team returns to Target Field.

Twins manager Derek Shelton said the team's hot hitting seems to be contagious.

"I think they're definitely feeding off each other," Shelton said. "If we continue hitting three-run homers, that'd be very good for me. But we're grinding through at-bats."

Boston also is feeling good after winning back-to-back games over the weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Red Sox will try to win three games in a row for the first time this season.

Trevor Story will look to stay hot at the plate for the Red Sox. He is coming off a game Sunday in which he went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

Story said he felt glad not just for his personal success but for the team's success.

"Feels good," Story said. "Especially getting the series win after losing the first game. Showed some toughness there, for sure, as a team. Personally, it's nice to see some results. Because we've been working, and it's good to see that show up."

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Story is faring better because of a return to fundamentals.

"Swinging at strikes and using the whole field," Cora said. "That's what he did last year, and he knows he needs to get back to that, and then big things are gonna happen. But right now, it's kind of the humble approach. Just hit the ball the other way, take what they give you and keep moving forward."

On Monday, Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (1-0, 5.27 ERA) will try to help his team keep its hot streak alive. Ober will go for back-to-back wins after notching a victory against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. He gave up two runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-6 victory.

This will be Ober's fifth career start against the Red Sox. In his first four outings, he is 1-2 with a 1.57 ERA and has struck out 20 in 23 innings.

Boston will counter with left-hander Garrett Crochet (2-1, 3.12 ERA), who will make his fourth start of the season. The 26-year-old has struck out 22 in 17 1/3 innings this season and is looking for the 30th victory of his career.

Crochet has faced the Twins 15 times, including four starts, in his career. He is 1-2 with a 3.49 ERA in those appearances and has fanned 40 batters in 28 1/3 innings.

The Twins and Red Sox faced each other six times last season, with each club winning three games.

--Field Level Media