Donaldson, Cave homer in 10th to lead Twins past Boston 9-6

BOSTON (AP) — Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer to lead off the 10th after Boston rallied from a four-run deficit to send the game into extra innings, and Jake Cave added a three-run shot to help the Minnesota Twins beat the Red Sox 9-6 on Wednesday night.

Donaldson and Jorge Polanco homered for the second straight game, and Miguel Sanó hit a 495-foot homer that is the longest in the majors this year and one of the longest in the history of Fenway Park — just 7 feet shorter than Ted Williams' 502-foot “red seat” shot.

Minnesota led 4-0 before Boston scored one in the seventh, one in the eighth, and then tied it on Kyle Schwarber's two-run homer off Alex Colomé (4-4) in the ninth inning. Xander Bogaerts singled and Rafael Devers walked before the Twins closer retired the next three batters to send the game into extra innings.

That's when Hansel Robles, who was in line to take over as closer after Matt Barnes blew big leads in back-to-back games this week, gave up Donaldson's game-winner. After a hit and a hit batsman, Cave sent the first pitch he saw to the same spot over the Boston bullpen to make it 9-4.

Colomé earned the win despite blowing a 4-2 lead in the ninth. Kiké Hernández homered in the bottom of the 10th before Ralph Garza Jr. retired Schwarber on a popup to third base to end the Twins' four-game losing streak.

Schwarber had three hits for Boston, which holds a 1 1/2-game lead over idle Oakland in the AL wild-card race. Robles (3-5) was charged with four earned runs on three hits and a walk; he struck out two.

LONG SHOTS

Sanó's third-inning solo homer is the longest at Fenway since Statcast began measuring them in 2015. It left the ballpark high above the 379-foot marker at the center field edge of the Green Monster, clearing the 37-foot wall, four rows...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Donaldson-Cave-homer-in-10th-to-lead-Twins-past-16412651.php