The Twins took their swings against AL Cy Young Award contender Josh Beckett, with Michael Cuddyer and Garrett Jones hitting homers as Minnesota built a 5-3 lead. The Red Sox pushed back furiously in the eighth and ninth, but Joe Nathan ultimately shut the door, striking out Kevin Youkilis to end the game.
A win and a Yankees loss would have given Boston the AL East title, but the magic number stayed at two. David Ortiz homered in going 4-for-5, but after Josh Beckett's rough start, the Red Sox were turned away late. They left two runners on in the eighth inning and the bases loaded in the ninth.
BATTING 2B: Bartlett (20, Beckett), Punto (18, Beckett). 3B: Kubel (2, Beckett). HR: Cuddyer (16, 2nd inning off Beckett, 0 on, 0 out), Jones (2, 6th inning off Beckett, 0 on, 1 out). TB: Bartlett 4; Kubel 3; Hunter; Morneau; Cuddyer 5; Jones 5; Buscher; Punto 2. RBI: Kubel (65), Cuddyer (81), Hunter 2 (106), Jones (4). 2-out RBI: Hunter. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Punto; Morneau; Hunter; LeCroy. SF: Hunter. GIDP: LeCroy. Team LOB: 5.
BASERUNNING SB: Bartlett (23, 2nd base off Corey/Varitek), Cuddyer (5, 2nd base off Okajima/Varitek), Buscher (1, 2nd base off Beckett/Varitek). CS: Hunter (9, 2nd base by Beckett/Varitek).
