Buxton Launches Two, Abel Dominates as Twins Obliterate Red Sox

The Minnesota Twins didn’t just beat the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night at Target Field, they absolutely dismantled them. A 6-0 drubbing that felt like it could have been worse is exactly what happens when you pair elite pitching with timely hitting, and the Red Sox got a masterclass in both disciplines from a Twins team that looks genuinely dangerous in 2026.

Let’s start with Mick Abel, who was nothing short of sensational across seven innings of work. Ten strikeouts, no walks, zero earned runs, and just four hits allowed. That’s the kind of performance that makes opposing lineups look foolish, and frankly, the Red Sox looked exactly that on this night. Sonny Gray, meanwhile, couldn’t escape the fourth inning for Boston, coughing up five runs on nine hits in just four forgettable innings. The contrast between these two arms was stark and decisive.

Buxton’s Explosive Night Puts Game Away Early

But this game belonged to Byron Buxton, plain and simple. The Twins center fielder went 4-for-5 with two home runs and two RBIs, and he did exactly what you need a star player to do when the pitching is locked in: he made sure the lead was insurmountable. His first blast came in the third inning, a solo shot that put Minnesota up 2-0. Then, in the sixth, he added an exclamation point with his second home run, a monster 438-foot poke that had Target Field rocking.

This is what elite baseball looks like. When your ace is throwing heat and hitting ten strikeouts, and your cleanup hitter is crushing hanging breaking balls into the bleachers, bad things happen to the other team. The Red Sox simply had no answer for any of it.

Supporting Cast Provides More Than Enough Damage

Brooks Lee joined the party with a solo home run in the fourth, and Trevor Larnach contributed a two-run single in that same inning. This wasn’t some fluky one-inning explosion, either. The Twins methodically built their lead from the first inning onward, when Luke Keaschall’s RBI single to center got them on the board courtesy of a Byron Buxton baserunning call that went Minnesota’s way after a challenge. Boston’s pitching staff simply couldn’t hold water after that.

The Red Sox had their chances, with some quality defensive plays keeping things respectable, but they were never truly in this game. A shutout loss is a humbling result in April or any other month, and this one stings. Sonny Gray’s early exit was particularly problematic, essentially conceding the game before most fans had even finished their first drink.

Minnesota’s pitching depth showed up too, with relievers Cole Sands and Jack Anderson combining to shut the door after Abel departed. This is a complete performance, the kind that makes you sit up and take notice in the standings. The Twins are showing early season form that suggests they could be serious players in what’s shaping up to be a competitive AL Central.

For Boston, this one stings. You don’t recover from a 6-0 drubbing with any dignity intact, and the Red Sox will need to regroup quickly before this early season stumble becomes something more concerning. The Twins, meanwhile, have served clear notice that they’re not rolling over for anybody in 2026.