BOSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 5-4 loss to the Twins here at Fenway Park on Sunday:
1) Both Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten, two of Boston’s top relievers, have struggled in their past two outings. Whitlock gave up a game-tying two-run single to Ryan Jeffers in the seventh inning.
Slaten pitched the eighth. He allowed an RBI double to Harrison Bader that made it 4-3 and an RBI single to Trevor Larnach that made it 5-3.
Whitlock had a streak of six straight scoreless outings before giving up a game-tying three-run homer to Anthony Santander in his previous outing at Toronto on Wednesday.