Buxton Blasts Two Homers as Twins Shut Out Red Sox

Mick Abel's dominant pitching performance completes the victory for Minnesota.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:08pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game between the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox, with the players and ball rendered as abstract, overlapping shapes and planes in vibrant colors.Buxton's power and Abel's pitching dominance propel the surging Twins to a shutout victory over the Red Sox.Minneapolis Today

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton hit two home runs and Mick Abel struck out 10 batters over seven scoreless innings as the Twins defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-0 on Tuesday night. The win was the Twins' eighth in their last nine games, as they continue their hot start to the season.

Why it matters

Buxton's power display and Abel's strong outing are important signs for the Twins, who are looking to build on their early-season success and establish themselves as a top contender in the American League. The Twins' offense has come alive during their recent winning streak, scoring 60 runs over the last nine games.

The details

Buxton hit solo home runs in the first and sixth innings, extending his own franchise record for home runs at Target Field. He finished the game 4-for-5 with a walk. Abel was outstanding on the mound, generating 15 swings and misses and never allowing the Red Sox to threaten. Brooks Lee also homered for the Twins, while Trevor Larnach drove in two runs with a single.

  • Buxton returned from the World Baseball Classic on March 20, putting him slightly behind schedule to start the season.
  • The Twins got off to a slow 3-6 start before turning things around, winning eight of their last nine games.

The players

Byron Buxton

The Minnesota Twins center fielder, who hit two home runs and finished the game 4-for-5 with a walk.

Mick Abel

The Twins rookie pitcher, who struck out 10 batters over seven scoreless innings to earn the win.

Alex Cora

The Boston Red Sox manager, who praised Buxton's performance, calling him an 'impactful player' who is 'fun to watch' when he's playing at a high level.

Sonny Gray

The former Twins pitcher who started for the Red Sox and gave up two home runs to Buxton.

Derek Shelton

The Twins manager, who said he is not worried about Buxton's hitting, as he knows the center fielder will continue to be a leader for the team.

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What they’re saying

“When (Buxton's) healthy, he's an impactful player. I hate to say it, but he's fun to watch as a baseball fan. As a manager, when he's playing like that, it's very hard. He's electric.”

— Alex Cora, Red Sox Manager

“It was a 2-0 breaking ball like three balls under the zone. When you're homering on a 2-0 breaking ball three balls below the zone, that's a hot player and a hot team.”

— Sonny Gray, Red Sox Pitcher

“Buck hitting is the least of my worries. I have a lot of worries in my life. That is not one that I'm worried about. He's going to hit, he's going to be the leader of our group, he's going to do things like he did tonight. That's not what keeps me up at night.”

— Derek Shelton, Twins Manager

What’s next

The Twins and Red Sox will conclude their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon, with the Twins looking to complete the sweep.

The takeaway

Buxton's power display and Abel's dominant pitching performance are further signs that the Twins are hitting their stride after a slow start to the season. If the Twins can continue this level of play, they will establish themselves as one of the top teams in the American League.