Sun May 11 23:45:56 2008

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Twins hold on to beat Red Sox in homer-filled game

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Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Craig Monroe clubbed a pair of homers and drove in four runs, and Minnesota held on for a 9-8 victory over the Boston Red Sox, in the third installment of a four-game series.

Justin Morneau had three hits and scored twice for the Twins, who have won eight of their last 11 games. Adam Everett belted a two-run homer and Mike Lamb stroked a two-run single.

Coco Crisp smacked a two-run homer and had three RBI for Boston, which has lost two games so far in this series, both by a run. Alex Cora had three hits in defeat.

Nick Blackburn (3-2) earned the victory by allowing nine hits and four runs through six innings, and Joe Nathan held on for his 12th save in as many opportunities despite allowing three hits and two runs in the ninth.

Tim Wakefield (3-2) was charged with seven hits and seven runs -- six earned -- in 2 2/3 innings and took the loss.

Kevin Youkilis and Mike Lowell singled with one out in the ninth and J.D. Drew doubled to center field over the head of Carlos Gomez, who misjudged the ball. That pulled Boston within 9-7. Crisp then hit a ball up the middle and off the glove of Nathan, but he recovered to throw out Drew going to third, as Lowell came home. Manny Ramirez, who didn't start the game due to a sore right hamstring, came on as a pinch-hitter. Crisp stole second, but Ramirez grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

The Twins entered the game with just 17 home runs this season, the fewest in the majors, but Monroe and Everett provided the power on Sunday with much of it coming in the second inning.

Morneau singled and Michael Cuddyer doubled to start the inning before Monroe homered to left. Lamb walked with one out and Everett followed with another homer to left for the 5-0 lead.

The Red Sox loaded the bases with nobody out in the third, but got just one run, coming on a Lowell sacrifice fly.

Lamb singled in Morneau and Delmon Young in the bottom of the third, but Boston scored three times in the fourth thanks to RBI singles from Kevin Cash and Youkilis, while the other run came home on a throwing error from second baseman Matt Tolbert.

Lowell's fielding error allowed Joe Mauer to score in the bottom of the fourth before Crisp homered to right in the seventh, getting the Sox within 8-6. However, Monroe led off the bottom of the inning with a blast off Mike Timlin, over the wall in left.

Game Notes

Livan Hernandez (5-1) will pitch for the Twins on Monday, while Clay Buchholz (2-2) heads to the mound for Boston...The Red Sox went 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base...Wakefield fell to 13-5 lifetime against the Twins.