Minnesota @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( May 8, 2013 ) Minnesota 15, Boston 8

The Minnesota Twins are not having any trouble scoring runs at Fenway Park. The hot-hitting Twins will be looking to win the four-game series when they visit the Boston Red Sox for the finale on Thursday. Minnesota has put up 26 runs in the first three games, including a 15-8 pounding on Wednesday. The Red Sox have dropped five of six and have replaced concerns about the offense with several about the pitching staff.

John Lackey will try to bring some stability to the back end of the rotation when he takes the mound for Boston on Thursday. The Red Sox gave rookie Allen Webster a chance to prove he was a better option than Felix Doubront in the No. 4 spot, but Webster could not make it out of the second inning on Wednesday. The Twins had their way with Doubront as well and have knocked around the Boston bullpen. Ryan Doumit has gone 6-for-8 with two home runs in the last two contests and Joe Mauer has multiple hits in each of the first three games of the series to lead the Twins.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kevin Correia (3-2, 2.83 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH John Lackey (1-2, 3.52)

Correia had a string of five straight quality starts and three straight wins come to an end at Cleveland on Saturday, when he was reached for four runs and six hits in five innings to absorb the loss. The veteran right-hander had worked at least seven innings in each of his first five turns and has issued only seven walks in 41 1/3 total frames. Both of Correia’s losses have come on the road, where he has posted a 5.11 ERA in two starts.

Lackey has not pitched more than six innings yet this season and lasted five in a loss at Texas on Saturday. The right-hander gave up a leadoff home run to Ian Kinsler in that start before settling down but was only given one run of support. Lackey is 7-5 with a 3.68 ERA in 15 career starts against Minnesota, but Mauer has tagged him for a pair of home runs among 10 hits.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox C David Ross (quad) and 3B Will Middlebrooks (right side) are both day-to-day following a collision in foul territory during Tuesday’s contest.

2. The Twins tied a franchise record with 11 runs in the first two innings on Wednesday,

3. Boston RF Shane Victorino has hit his first two home runs of the season in the series.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Twins 4