The Boston Red Sox are sticking with a new-look lineup Sunday, and with good reason. Manager John Farrell bumped Mookie Betts up to the lead-off spot and batted Andrew Benintendi cleanup Saturday against the Minnesota Twins, and the change produced an 11-1 Red Sox rout at Target Field. That same lineup will take the field Sunday in the Red Sox’s series finale versus the Twins, with one exception: Deven Marrero will start at third base and bat ninth in place of Josh Rutledge. Benintendi will play center field, meaning Jackie Bradley Jr. is out of the lineup for the second straight game. Boston’s bats should be in good hands with Chris Sale on
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Red Sox Wrap: Joe Mauer’s Walk-Off Bomb Lifts Twins Over Sox 4-3
The Boston Red Sox nearly earned an impressive comeback win, but the Minnesota Twins notched a walk-off victory thanks to Joe Mauer. After the Red Sox tied the game with two runs in the ninth inning, Mauer took Matt Barnes deep in the bottom half of the frame to give Minnesota the 4-3 win. Eduardo Rodriguez turned in a quality start for Boston, but the Red Sox’s quiet bats squandered the strong outing. With the loss, the Sox drop to 15-14 while the Twins improve to 15-12. Here’s how it all went down. GAME IN A WORDDeflating. The Sox mounted a great comeback in the ninth inning, but Mauer’s heroics ... NESN.com
Isaiah Thomas, John Wall Both Know Celtics, Wizards Don’t Like Each Other
The Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards clearly don’t like each other. The two teams exchanged unpleasantries throughout the regular season, and the rivalry has boiled over into their Eastern Conference semifinals series. While the first two games at TD Garden were physical, they didn’t hold a candle to Game 3 at the Verizon Center on Thursday night. Three players were ejected from the contest, which Washington ultimately won 116-89. Kelly Oubre Jr. was the first player tossed from the game after he viciously shoved Kelly Olynyk in the second quarter. Terry Rozier and Brandon Jennings followed suit in the fourth quarter, as both players wer... NESN.com
Ford Took Inspiration From Dark Side Of Force For Mustang’s Face-Lift
Most car designers typically look to animals or fighter jets for inspiration when they’re working on a new model. But Ford’s main influence for the 2018 Mustang came from a galaxy far, far away. For the 2018 model year, Ford gave the Mustang a face-lift, with the most noticeable change coming in the form of a more angular front fascia. The Blue Oval’s design team made these tweaks to make the pony car look more menacing, so it took inspiration from none other than Darth Vader, according to Autoblog. Ford design manager Melvin Betancourt recently told Autoblog design elements from Emperor Palpatine’s errand boy’s helmet clearly are visib... NESN.com
Stray Bullet Injures Fan At Busch Stadium During Cardinals Game Vs. Brewers
One baseball fan didn’t leave her last game at Busch Stadium unscathed. A fan suffered a minor injury Tuesday at Busch Stadium during the St. Louis Cardinals’ win over the Milwaukee Brewers. The woman received medical attention at Busch Stadium, was interviewed by police and went home. Police say the bullet was fired from outside Busch Stadium and grazed the arm of a woman, who was seated near the first base line, according to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Christine Byers. Police sources told Byers they received a call about gunshots at an intersection less than a mile from the stadium and believe the bullet might have come from that incidient. ... NESN.com
Orioles’ Manny Machado Rips Red Sox After Second Pitch Sails His Way
The Boston Red Sox-Baltimore Orioles drama continued Tuesday night at Fenway Park. A pitch thrown by Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale sailed behind Orioles third baseman Manny Machado in the top of the first inning, and both benches were warned. Afer the game, Machado strongly voiced his displeasure with the Red Sox after seeing a second pitch come his way ever since he spiked Red Sox second basemen Dustin Pedroia two weeks ago. Hear Machado’s rant against the Red Sox in the above video from “Red Sox Final,” presented by Plainridge Park Casino. Thumbnail photo from Patrick McDermott/USA TODAY Sports Images ... NESN.com
Which Patriots Draft Pick Has Best Chance To Make Immediate Impact?
The New England Patriots weren’t very active in the 2017 NFL Draft, as they only made four selections. But you might not have to wait very long to see the players they did draft make an impact on the gridiron, including their first pick, defensive end Derek Rivers. Hear what NESN.com Patriots beat reporter Doug Kyed told Emerson Lotzia about Rivers and more in the video above from “NESN Sports Today,” presented by People’s United Bank. ... NESN.com