Twins reclaim third AL Wild Card spot with extra-innings win against Red Sox

A day after the Detroit Tigers tied the Minnesota Twins for the third American League Wild Card spot, the Twins reclaimed it with a win in extra innings against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, 4-2.

The Tigers lost to the Baltimore Orioles, putting the Twins up one game on Detroit with eight games remaining.

The Kansas City Royals, who currently sit in the second AL Wild Card spot, lost to the San Francisco Giants. The Twins are now 1.5 games back of the Royals.

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The Twins gutted out a late night victory on the east coast, scoring three runs in the top of the 12th inning to finish off the Red Sox.

Rookie David Festa pitched well for the Twins, going five innings while giving up one run on four hits, three walks and striking out six. Minnesota's bullpen was the difference, as they went seven innings while giving up only one run off of five hits.

Boston got the scoring started in the bottom of the fourth inning as Trevor Story belted an RBI single to center, scoring Tyler O'Neill and taking a 1-0 lead.

The Twins answered in the top half of the seventh inning. Byron Buxton singled with one out and then swiped his seventh base of the season. After a Trevor Larnach single to right that advanced Buxton to third, Carlos Correa grounded into a force out that scored Buxton to tie the game.

Minnesota reliever Cole Sands was outstanding after giving up a leadoff double to Ceddane Rafaela, as he proceeded to strike out Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers and O'Neill to end the frame.

Both offenses failed to get runs across for their teams, until the top of the 12th when rain began to fall on Fenway Park. With Kyle Farmer starting the frame at second, Buxton singled to left to move Farmer to third and Larnach singled off a deflection by Red Sox pitcher Cooper Criswell, scoring Farmer.

Correa then walked, setting up an RBI single for Matt Wallner to take a 3-1 lead.

Willi Castro hit a sacrifice fly a batter later, putting Minnesota up 4-1.

The Red Sox were able to pick up another run in the bottom of the 12th but Griffin Jax was able to end the ballgame and seal the victory for the Twins.

The Twins and Red Sox will do it again Saturday afternoon. Pablo López (15-8, 3.84 ERA) will take the mound for Minnesota as Kutter Crawford (8-15, 4.19 ERA) will do the same for Boston. First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. CT.