Minnesota @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( May 7, 2013 ) Minnesota 6, Boston 1

The Boston Red Sox are losing games and losing players. The Red Sox will try to keep the roster healthy and take the lead in their four-game series when they host the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. The teams have split the first two games of the set, but Boston has put closers Andrew Bailey and Joel Hanrahan on the disabled list over the last few days and lost catcher David Ross and third baseman Will Middlebrooks in a collision on Tuesday.

The Twins battled into extra innings before falling in the series opener on Monday but had little trouble en route to a 6-1 victory a day later. Joe Mauer has four hits (three doubles) in the two contests as he continues to pull out of a slump and Justin Morneau has driven in three runs in the series. Minnesota starting pitchers have held the Boston offense to three earned runs in 12 innings, and rookie Pedro Hernandez will try to keep that going on Wednesday. The Red Sox’s offensive problems began over the weekend in Texas, and they have totaled five runs in their last four losses.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), NESN Plus (Boston), ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Pedro Hernandez (1-0, 3.92 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Allen Webster (0-0, 3.00)

Hernandez has yet to complete six innings in five appearances (three starts) and is coming off his worst outing at Cleveland, where he allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. The Venezuelan left-hander hurt himself with four walks in that turn. Hernandez made his major-league debut last season against the Red Sox as a member of the Chicago White Sox and was lit up for eight runs and 12 hits in four innings on July 18. Most of the damage was done by Cody Ross and Adrian Gonzalez, who no longer are with Boston.

Webster was a key part of the trade that sent Gonzalez to the Los Angeles Dodgers last August, and he made his major-league debut against the Kansas City Royals on April 21. The 23-year-old allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits in six innings but did not factor in the decision. Webster was recalled to fill Hanrahan’s spot on the roster and take over in the rotation for Felix Doubront, who was shifted to the bullpen.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston DH David Ortiz has hit safely in 27 straight games dating back to last season.

2. Twins C/OF Ryan Doumit hit his first homer and recorded his first multi-hit game since April 16 on Tuesday.

3. Ross (quad) and Middlebrooks (right side) are both day-to-day and will be re-evaluated on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 8, Twins 4