MINNEAPOLIS -- The bats finally livened up for the Red Sox on Thursday afternoon, but starting pitcher Rick Porcello didn't really need them to.
The righty put on a pitching clinic (seven shutout innings, three baserunners) at Target Field while leading Boston to a 9-2 victory over the Twins to salvage the finale of a three-game series and finish a 10-game road trip through three different time zones with a 6-4 mark. It was yet another happy flight for the Red Sox, who improved to 15-3 on getaway days this season.
Boston improved to 50-26, just a few minutes after the Yankees became the first team in the Majors this season to hit the 50-win plateau.