Red Sox acquire hard-throwing reliever in trade with Twins

The Red Sox made a trade with the Twins on Wednesday. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)The Red Sox pulled off a trade on late Wednesday night in order to bolster a beleaguered bullpen.

The team announced Wednesday that it acquired right-handed relief pitcher Jorge Alcalá from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for prospect Andy Lugo.

In order to add Alcalá to the team’s 40-man roster, the Red Sox also designated right-handed pitcher Brian Van Belle for assignment.

Alcalá, 29, has struggled this season in Minnesota — sporting an 8.88 ERA over 24.1 innings of work. But the righty, who ranks in the 88th percentile of MLB pitchers in average fastball velocity at 96.9 miles per hour, did achieve…