Major League Baseball

Porcello remains unbeaten at Fenway, Sox beat Twins 8-7

Published Jul. 24, 2016 5:59 p.m. ET

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BOSTON (AP) Rick Porcello became the first Boston pitcher in 55 years to open a season 10-0 in Fenway Park, and Hanley Ramirez and Travis Shaw both hit a three-run homer as the Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 8-7 Sunday to earn a split of a four-game series.

Dustin Pedroia hit a tiebreaking solo homer and Xander Bogaerts had three singles for Boston, which won its 10th time in 13 games.

Juan Centeno had three hits and drove in three runs for the Twins, who completed a seven-game road trip 4-3.

Porcello (13-2) allowed five runs with eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings, becoming the first since Don Schwall in 1961 to win his first 10 Fenway decisions in a season.

Brad Ziegler got the final three outs for his first save with Boston after being acquired from Arizona earlier this month.

The Red Sox surged ahead with five runs - four unearned - and chased Tommy Milone (3-3) in the fifth.

Pedroia homered over the Green Monster. Third baseman Miguel Sano had a grounder go through his legs for an error that scored a run before Shaw belted his homer into Boston's bullpen, making it 8-3.

Milone gave up eight runs - four earned - in 4 2/3 innings, snapping a personal three-game winning streak.

The Twins scored two runs in the seventh and eighth innings, slicing it to 8-7.

Ramirez's homer - his fifth in five games - went into the first row of Monster seats, with a fan making a nice standing, two-handed grab, to make it 3-2.

The Twins tied it when Max Kepler tripled leading off the fourth before scoring on Kennys Vargas' grounder.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Twins: C Kurt Suzuki was out with stitches in his chin after getting hit in the face mask Saturday. ''We're trying to look at ways that we can potentially protect him if we needed to play him in an emergency,'' manager Paul Molitor said.

Red Sox: DH David Ortiz was rested. . Manager John Farrell said CF Mookie Betts' right knee was ''improved'' and ''we hope that by (Monday) night he's back in the lineup.'' Betts left Friday's game with soreness in the knee.

BULLPEN HELP

The Red Sox recalled RHP Joe Kelly from Triple-A Pawtucket before the game after sending RHP Heath Hembree there following Saturday's loss.

Kelly has only started since being acquired in 2014, but has pitched 52 2/3 career innings of relief with a 3.25 ERA.

KEY OUT

Junichi Tazawa entered with bases-loaded and no outs in the eighth. He allowed two inherited runners to score, but struck out Byron Buxton on a splitter in the dirt to end the inning.

UP NEXT:

Twins: They're off Monday before beginning a six-game homestand Tuesday. RHP Ervin Santana (3-8, 3.93) faces Atlanta RHP Lucas Harrell (1-2, 4.24) in the first of a two-game series.

Red Sox: LHP Drew Pomeranz makes his second start for Boston Monday after being acquired from San Diego. He gave up five runs in three innings in his debut Wednesday against the Giants. RHP Justin Verlander (9-6, 3.74) is slated to go for the Tigers in the opener of a three-game series.

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