Time: 07:10 P.M. EST Venue: Fenway Park
BOSTON -- Kyle Gibson's stellar star Friday may have been just what the Minnesota Twins needed to finally go on a little run, starting with Saturday's game against the Red Sox. The Twins (36-60) became the first American League team to reach 60 losses after Thursday's 13-2 rout in the series opener against the Red Sox in Boston, but bounced back in a big way. Gibson pitched eight one-run innings and gave up just hits while Miguel Sano played the hero as Minnesota held on for a 2-1 victory." The starting staff's been throwing a little bit better," Gibson said. "Whenever that happens, that's always going to help you go on a run. Hopefully we can do it again (Saturday)." Boston (54-40) pounded out 17 hits while scoring 13 runs in Thursday's blowout, but had only two going into Friday's ninth inning before loading the bases for David Ortiz with nobody out. Miraculously, the Red Sox couldn't win the game -- or even tie it." (Boston's) a good team, a really good team," Gibson said. "If our defense is going to play like that and offense is going to scrape a couple runs when they need to, I think we can get on a run." Boston turns to David Price to get back on track Saturday. Price (9-7, 4.36 ERA) has been durable, if nothing else, in his recent starts at Fenway Park. The high-priced southpaw is 6-3 with a 4.06 ERA at home this season, but has gone eight innings in four straight Fenway starts. Price finished an out shy of a quality start Sunday against the Yankees in New York, allowing three runs on 11 hits and a walk -- but with just one strikeout -- in a 5 2/3-inning loss." I couldn't execute whatever pitch I was throwing to get an out," Price said. "That's tough." It was the second time this year Price recorded one strikeout in a start. He also totaled one in his June 24 start at Texas, something he hadn't done in 40 prior turns." You guys are tired of hearing it, and I'm tired of saying it: I've got to execute," Price said. Price is 9-3 with a 2.12 ERA in 15 starts career against Minnesota. Brian Dozier is 6-for-31 lifetime against Price, but has two home runs, four RBIs and two walks. Kurt Suzuki, who was given the day off Friday, is expected back in the lineup. While Suzuki is 7-for-33 against Price, he has a homer and a team-leading six RBIs off him. Ricky Nolasco (4-8, 5.02 ERA) has also proven somewhat durable in his recent starts, going at least six innings in seven of his last nine since the start of June. Last time out, Nolasco surrendered only one run on three hits and a walk with no strikeouts in a hard-luck, six-inning 1-0 loss at Detroit. It was his fourth loss in five starts. Nolasco is 3-2 with a 4.50 ERA in six career starts against Boston, but has struggled mightily at Fenway. The right-hander is 1-1 at the ballpark with a 10.80 ERA, his highest at any park with at least two appearances. His last start at Fenway came four years ago with Miami, a nine-run debacle over 3 1/3 innings of a 15-5 loss on June 20, 2012. Unsurprisingly, David Ortiz has been a problem for Nolasco -- as he has been for so many other pitchers. The retiring 40-year-old slugger is 4-for-13 with six RBIs against him, but three of those hits have been home runs. Aaron Hill is 6-for-20 with a pair of RBIs, Dustin Pedroia is 4-for-15 and Hanley Ramirez is 2-for-6 with an RBI against Nolasco.
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