Boston Red Sox vs Minnesota Twins | Preview, Odds, Free Pick | Sportsbookbuzz.com

Boston Red Sox (3-3) at Minnesota Twins (5-2)
Monday, April 12, 2010
4:10 PM ET on ESPN
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Starting Pitchers
Boston: Lester (0-0, 7.20 ERA)
Minnesota: Pavano(1-0, 1.29 ERA)

Fans will say goodbye to the Metrodome, a place where Minnesota played for 28 seasons including two World Series and five division titles, as the Twins make their first regular season debut at Target Field on Monday afternoon against the Boston Red Sox.

The Twins were 2-4 against Boston last season, going 2-2 against them at home.

Boston will look to spoil today’s opener by recording their third consecutive win and their first at Target Field after winning their second straight game 8-6, to take the three-game series at Kansas City on Sunday.

Dustin Pedroia tied a career-high with four hits, including a home run, and the Red Sox in the win. The Sox scored four runs in the first inning and continued to add to their lead. Right-hander Clay Buchholz struggled through five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits. Third baseman Adrian Beltre continued his hot start by going 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-run double.

The Twins are headed home after a seven-game road trip that concluded with a 5-4 loss at the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Training by one Jim Thome rocketed a ball to left field that bounced off the left-field wall. J.J. Hardy, who reached earlier with a single, made his way around to third but the relay throw beat him to end the game and the Minnesota’s five-game winning streak.

The Red Sox will go with Jon Lester on the mound this afternoon. Lester (0-0, 7.20 ERA) will make his second start of the season after earning a no-decision in Boston’s opener against the Yankees on April 6. Lester surrendered four earned runs on five hits while waking three and striking out four through five innings. He is 0-1 against the Twins in three career starts with an ERA of 5.66.

Minnesota will counter with Carl Pavano (1-0, 1.29 ERA) who had a solid outing in his season debut at Anaheim, throwing seven innings and allowing just a single earned run on six hits while fanning six. Pavano is 2-3 lifetime against Boston in six starts with a 7.07 ERA.

The odds makers have the Red Sox as –1 ½ -point favorites with a game total of 9 runs.

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With all the excitement combined with the way the Twins are playing, I just can’t see the Sox beating them in this one. Minnesota wins and the UNDER.

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