Minnesota @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 26, 2018 ) Minnesota 2, Boston 1

The Boston Red Sox have lost consecutive contests for the first time in over a month, a trend they hope to reverse when they continue their four-game series against the visiting Minnesota Twins on Friday. After a loss and then a rainout to end their set in Baltimore, the Red Sox managed only five hits and left the bases loaded in the ninth inning in a 2-1 loss to the Twins in the opener on Thursday.

Boston's first losing streak since it dropped two straight at Minnesota from June 19-20, coupled with a win by the New York Yankees, left the club with a 4 1/2-game lead in the American League East. The Twins are trying to stay in the mix in the AL Central, winning four in a row to get within seven games of first-place Cleveland. Mitch Garver's RBI double in the eighth inning was the difference in Thursday's win as he improved to 8-for-13 with six RBIs over the last three games for Minnesota, which has won 13 of its last 18. All-Star Chris Sale will try to continue a dominant stretch when he gets the start for the Red Sox on Friday opposite Lance Lynn.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Lance Lynn (7-8, 5.23 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Chris Sale (11-4, 2.13)

Lynn gave up three earned runs over five innings in each of his last two starts and tied a season high with six walks in Saturday's loss at Kansas City. That outing left the 31-year-old with a 2-6 record and a 7.58 ERA in 10 turns on the road this year. He stymied the Red Sox over five innings in a 4-1 victory at home last month and has posted a 1.50 ERA in four career matchups.

Sale leads the AL in ERA, tops the majors with 197 strikeouts and has allowed only one run in 33 innings over his last five starts - all victories. The former first-round draft pick has registered 57 strikeouts against four walks while yielding just 18 hits in that span. Sale settled for a no-decision at Minnesota on June 19 after giving up two runs in seven frames, which left him with a 4.12 ERA in 27 career appearances (19 starts) versus the Twins.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox RHP Brandon Workman was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room on the roster for newly acquired RHP Nathan Eovaldi, who will start on Sunday.

2. Minnesota leads the all-time series 311-310.

3. Boston CF Mookie Betts continues to lead the majors in batting (.347) but is 6-for-31 with nine strikeouts over his last seven games.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Twins 2