Chris Paddack pitched six innings without allowing any runs to lead the Minnesota Twins to their 11th straight win, beating the Boston Red Sox 5-2 on Friday night.
This win streak matches their previous ones in 2003 and 2006, marking their third-longest streak ever. Their longest winning streak was 15 games in 1991, the year they won the World Series. They also won 12 games in a row in 1980.
With a record of 18-13, the Twins currently hold the longest winning streak in the MLB this year. Last season, there were only four streaks of 10 or more games, with the longest being Tampa Bay’s 13-game streak.
Paddack expressed his determination not to be the one to end the streak, saying, “I felt great out there… We’re definitely on a tear right now, and we want to keep the ball rolling.”
The Twins got on the board with an RBI single from Edouard Julien in the third inning, giving Paddack the lead. From there, Paddack continued to dominate, allowing only two hits while striking out six and walking one.
This performance was especially impressive considering his journey back from Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him after just five starts in the 2022 season.
Catcher Ryan Jeffers praised Paddack’s resilience, noting how he has persevered through the challenges of surgery and rehabilitation, always striving to improve.
Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck completed six innings for the sixth time in seven starts, but he was taken out after just three batters into the seventh inning, as the Twins scored four runs in that inning.
Edouard Julien drew a walk with the bases loaded due to a pitch clock violation, and then Ryan Jeffers hit a double that brought in two more runs.
The Red Sox had a chance to score big in the first inning when Jarren Duran reached base on an error and Rafael Devers hit a double. However, Twins pitcher Chris Paddack managed to get out of the inning with just one strikeout, a pop-up, and a groundout.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora felt confident with his team’s chances to take the lead early in the game with Tanner Houck pitching, but they couldn’t capitalize.
In the eighth inning, Devers hit another double, bringing in two runs for the Red Sox, but it wasn’t enough to catch up. The Red Sox struck out 13 times in the game.
