Red Sox lose to Twins, plagued by errors

The Boston Red Sox lost 2-1 to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night. The defeat had a familiar feel, echoing issues from last season, including infield errors and missed scoring opportunities. Both runs scored by the Twins were unearned, due to mistakes by the Red Sox. The team fell behind in the second inning after allowing an unearned run. They trailed 0-1 until the fifth inning, then gave up another unearned run in the eighth. Key errors came from veteran players Alex Bregman and Trevor Story, both of whom are seen as crucial to the infield defense. Last year, injuries to players like Story affected the team's infield setup. Story made a late comeback after a serious shoulder injury but has played only 69 regular-season games in two years. This spring, he and Bregman each have three errors. Top prospect Kristian Campbell had his first error this spring, but he has generally performed well. He may compete for the second-base position. The Red Sox managed only four hits and three walks, striking out 17 times during the game. They left six runners on base and only capitalized once with runners in scoring position. Pitcher Sean Newcomb had a strong outing, allowing one unearned run and striking out three in nearly five innings. The competition for the closer role continues, with Liam Hendriks and Aroldis Chapman each getting a chance to pitch. Hendriks acknowledged Chapman's impressive performance this spring. Meanwhile, infielder Vaughn Grissom was optioned to minor league camp, as the team narrows down their roster. Manager Alex Cora encouraged Grissom to focus on his game and improve his skills. The Red Sox also sent catcher Blake Sabol to minor league camp, leaving 45 players in big-league camp.