Minnesota @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( May 6, 2013 ) Minnesota 5, Boston 6

Stephen Drew got off to a slow start with the Boston Red Sox but appears to be finding his swing. Drew and the Red Sox will be looking for a second straight victory when they host the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Drew went 4-for-5 and hit the walk-off double in the 11th inning on Monday to help Boston snap a three-game losing streak. The Twins have dropped three of the last four and are 2-5 on their 10-game road trip.

Drew entered the series opener batting .182 before lifting his average all the way to .225 with Monday’s outburst, which included a solo home run and three RBIs. Dustin Pedroia also took the time to pull out of his slump with three hits in the series opener, including a home run that gave the Red Sox the lead in the eighth. But Minnesota found a weakness in the back of Boston’s bullpen as Brian Dozier hit a game-tying home run in the ninth off Joel Hanrahan, who left later in the inning with forearm tightness.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Scott Diamond (2-2, 3.97 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Ryan Dempster (2-2, 3.00)

Diamond has put up three straight quality starts and allowed two runs and four hits over six innings to earn a win over the Detroit Tigers last Wednesday. The left-hander has kept the bases clean by issuing only three walks in 22 2/3 total innings. Diamond has never faced Boston but has been at his best this season on the road, where he has earned both of his wins while posting a 2.25 ERA.

Dempster has earned the win in each of his last two starts while allowing a total of three runs in 12 innings against Houston and Toronto. The veteran right-hander has yet to allow more than six hits in an outing and has yielded more than three runs once in six starts. A longtime National Leaguer, Dempster has made four career appearances (three starts) against Minnesota, going 2-1 with a 6.16 ERA. Joe Mauer is 0-for-7 with five strikeouts against Dempster, but Justin Morneau is 3-for-6 with a home run.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox DH David Ortiz has hit safely in 26 straight games, dating back to last season.

2. Mauer has three doubles and three walks in the last two games.

3. Boston placed RHP Andrew Bailey on the DL Monday and Hanrahan will have an MRI on Tuesday. Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa are the next likely candidates for save opportunities.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 4, Twins 3