Major League Baseball

Bogaerts, Red Sox rout Twins 8-1

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 1:06 a.m. ET

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Xander Bogaerts matched a career high with four hits, including a three-run home run, and Steven Wright pitched into the eighth inning as the Boston Red Sox topped the Minnesota Twins 8-1 on Friday night.

Bogaerts opened the scoring with his homer in the fifth inning off Twins starter Tyler Duffey. Bogaerts' seventh homer of the season landed in the bullpens in left-center field for a 3-0 lead. The home run was one of 16 hits by the Red Sox.

Bogaerts' chance to homer was the result of Minnesota's inability to turn a double play earlier in the inning. Mookie Betts hit a grounder to third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who threw to second base. But Minnesota's Brian Dozier lost the handle on the ball and couldn't make the throw to first for an inning-ending double play.

Minnesota didn't have much of an answer for Wright (7-4) and his knuckleball.