Twins Pummel Red Sox Behind Buxton, Abel

Minnesota extends home winning streak to six games with dominant performance.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:10am

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The Minnesota Twins cruised to a 6-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night, powered by a strong outing from pitcher Mick Abel and a big game at the plate from outfielder Byron Buxton. Buxton collected four hits, including two solo home runs, while Abel pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out 10 batters without issuing a walk.

Why it matters

The win extends the Twins' home winning streak to six games and keeps them near the top of the American League Central standings. For the struggling Red Sox, the loss is their 11th in the first 17 games of the season, raising early concerns about their ability to compete in the AL East.

The details

Buxton got the Twins on the board in the first inning with an RBI single, then hit solo home runs in the second and sixth innings. Rookie Brooks Lee also hit a solo shot for Minnesota, and Trevor Larnach drove in two runs with a single in the fourth. On the mound, Abel was dominant, limiting the Red Sox to just four hits over seven innings. The Twins bullpen of Taylor Rogers and Cole Sands finished off the shutout.

  • The Twins' home winning streak is now at six games.
  • The Red Sox have lost 11 of their first 17 games to start the season.

The players

Byron Buxton

The Twins' star outfielder had a huge game, collecting four hits, including two solo home runs, and scoring four runs.

Mick Abel

The Twins' young starting pitcher dominated the Red Sox, tossing seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks.

Sonny Gray

The Red Sox starting pitcher struggled, allowing five runs on nine hits in four innings of work.

Willson Contreras

The Red Sox first baseman left the game in the fifth inning with tightness in his lower back.

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What they’re saying

“Buxton is really swinging the bat well right now. When he's locked in like this, he can take over a game.”

— Rocco Baldelli, Twins Manager

“We just couldn't get anything going offensively tonight. Abel was sharp and we didn't have an answer for him.”

— Alex Cora, Red Sox Manager

What’s next

The Twins and Red Sox will wrap up their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis.

The takeaway

The Twins' dominant performance at home against the struggling Red Sox showcases their potential to contend in the AL Central, while Boston's early-season woes raise concerns about their ability to bounce back and compete in the tough AL East.