Once again, the Minnesota Twins found themselves locked in a pitchers' duel with the Boston Red Sox. This time, the Twins had the better weapon.
Minnesota right-hander Trevor May pitched arguably the best game of his young career Wednesday in the second game of a doubleheader. He shut out the Red Sox through seven innings, surrendering just two hits and striking out nine as the Twins won the game by a 2-0 final.
May has taken incremental steps forward since his big-league debut last year. He's gone at least six innings in each of his last four outings, and Wednesday's seven-inning start equaled the longest of his career. It was May's 19th career big-league start, and the first in which he did not allow a run as he lowered his ERA to 4.45.
Minnesota's offense managed just two runs in eight innings off Boston starter Rick Porcello, but May was just a bit better on this night.
"Trevor May just stepped up for us in a big way," said Twins manager Paul Molitor. "It might be as well as I've seen him pitch in terms of command."
May's dominance came one day after right-hander Mike Pelfrey allowed just one run in a tough-luck, 1-0 loss in the series opener at Fenway Park. In the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader, Phil Hughes was hit for five runs in 4 1/3 innings in Minnesota's loss.
Both of the hits May allowed came in the bottom of the third inning. Carlos Peguero got May for a two-out single, and Dustin Pedroia doubled to left one batter later. Peguero was held at third base on the Pedroia double, though, and was stranded there when May got Brock Holt to ground out to the shortstop to end the Boston threat.
The Red Sox didn't make much solid contact on May, who pounded the strike zone all game. Of the 98 pitches he threw, 70 went for strikes. May also did not walk a batter all game. That's a far cry from his Twins debut last year, when May walked seven batters in just two innings. He's now walked just one batter in his last four starts combined.
"For me, it starts with being aggressive," May said. "I just wanted to be throwing in the zone and see what happens."
The Twins will have a roster move to make before Thursday's game. Left-hander Tommy Milone was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to make the start against Boston. Minnesota is hoping that right-hander Ricky Nolasco can avoid the disabled list despite an ankle injury. If he does, there will be an odd man out in the rotation.
Given the way May has pitched in his last four starts -- and particularly Wednesday -- it's hard to say that he should get the boot.
"We're pleased that he's come along and showed a maturation that we'd like to see in a young player who's gaining experience," Molitor said. "He seems to be learning from his success as well as when he struggles. He's an intelligent guy. . . . Tonight was just one of those ones where he put us on his back and carried us through seven innings and gave us a chance to win."
FOX Sports North's Jamie Hersch contributed to this report.
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