Boston Red Sox News

David Ortiz homered twice to set a franchise record with his 38th career multihomer game and the Red Sox outlasted the Twins, 12-5, on Saturday night at Target Field.

John Lackey, who is 1-3 with a 4.03 ERA since returning from the disabled list, gets the ball opposite Pedro Hernandez as the Red Sox look to sweep the Twins in Sunday afternoon's series finale.

Andrew Miller fills one of the more anonymous roles on a baseball roster, but the reliever and the Red Sox wouldn't have it any other way.

The Red Sox were playing short handed again on Saturday night, only this time they're down two starters.

One night after he delivered arguably the biggest hit of the season for the Red Sox, Will Middlebrooks keyed another Boston victory on Friday by doing something he'd only done once as a professional.

Every lineup, every day, as they are made public by the clubs.

Jonny Gomes drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly and the Red Sox got a dominant pitching performance from starter Clay Buchholz and the bullpen Friday night in a 3-2, 10-inning win over the Twins.

After allowing just three hits over seven scoreless frames vs. the Red Sox on May 7, Twins left-hander Scott Diamond takes the ball opposite Ryan Dempster in Saturday night's game at Target Field.

David Ross was expected to rejoin the Red Sox this weekend in hopes of playing on Sunday when he is eligible to come off the seven-day disabled list.

Manager John Farrell said that he'd spoken with injured reliever Joel Hanrahan, who had season-ending Tommy John surgery on Thursday in Florida.

Shane Victorino's no stranger to back problems, so this time around, the Red Sox's right fielder knows he's better off playing it safe.

Every lineup, every day, as they are made public by the clubs.

Shane Victorino made another fine catch for the Red Sox on Thursday night, running into the wall in right to rob the Rays' Jose Lobaton of extra bases in the bottom of the eighth inning. But there was a price to be paid. Victorino wrenched his lower back on the play and had to exit the game in the bottom of the ninth.

The Red Sox were down to their last strike when Will Middlebrooks reversed their fortunes dramatically. The slugger turned on a 1-2, 85-mph changeup from Rays closer Fernando Rodney with two outs in the top of the ninth and drilled a three-run double that led Boston to a 4-3 victory on Thursday in the rubber match of a three-game set.

Through all of the controversy revolving around him, Clay Buchholz has amassed a sterling 6-0 record and 1.69 ERA through eight starts. The Red Sox right-hander will face off with a powerful Twins offense in Friday's opener, opposing Minnesota righty Vance Worley.

Red Sox reliever Joel Hanrahan underwent surgery on Thursday to repair his flexor tendon and also had Tommy John surgery.

If the season were to end today, Boston's John Farrell would be American League Manager of the Year. What Farrell has done with the Red Sox mess is not impressive; it is amazing.

Look for Andrew Bailey to be back in the Boston bullpen on Monday night, when the Red Sox open a three-game series in Chicago against the White Sox.

A perplexing slump that has lasted over a year for former elite Red Sox setup man Daniel Bard seemed to hit rock bottom on Wednesday night, when the right-hander walked five batters in an inning-plus for Double-A Portland.

It's hard to believe Stephen Drew's slump was such a big topic of conversation earlier in the season. These days, he is one of the most productive hitters the Red Sox have.