Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Parmelee's two-run homer in the ninth inning gave the Minnesota Twins an 8-6 win over the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a three-game set.
With Andrew Miller (1-1) on the mound, Kurt Suzuki hit a two-out single to keep the inning alive, and Parmelee followed with a crush over the right field wall for the walk-off win.
"Doesn't matter who does it, but I'm glad for (Parmelee)," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "He's worked really hard."
Eduardo Nunez hit a two-run home run, Brian Dozier drove in two, while Joe Mauer and Suzuki each had an RBI for the Twins, who have won three of their last four.
Ricky Nolasco gave up three runs on six hits over six innings of work in the start for Minnesota. Glen Perkins (1-0) worked a scoreless ninth for the win.
"I just tried to battle," said Nolasco. "They gave me some tough at-bats. That's a tough lineup. They don't give away outs and they make you work."
David Ortiz went 4-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI, Shane Victorino was 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Jonny Gomes hit home a run for the Red Sox, who had won their previous two. Jake Peavy gave up six runs on nine hits in just 4 1/3 innings of work.
Ortiz smacked a solo home run in the first to give Boston the lead, but Minnesota surged ahead in the second inning.
Parmelee walked with one out and Nunez followed with his first home run of the season. After the next two batters reached base, Dozier doubled them both home and scored himself on a Mauer single for a 5-1 lead.
Ortiz's second home run of the game to lead off the fourth made it a 5-2 contest.
The Twins, though, got the run back in the fifth as Trevor Plouffe doubled to begin the frame and Suzuki brought him home with a single to left for a 6-2 advantage.
Boston used a big seventh inning to tie the game. Michael Tonkin set down the first two batters, but three straight singles was capped on a base hit by Victorino to score a run and chase Tonkin.
Brian Duensing then took the mound and Ortiz greeted him with a single to score another run. Mike Napoli then walked and Matt Guerrier became the third pitcher of the frame for Minnesota. He walked Gomes to tie the game.
Caleb Thielbar took the mound and finished the inning by getting A.J. Pierzynski to look at strike three.
Game Notes
Boston won four of the seven games against Minnesota last season ... Minnesota batted 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base ... Boston went 3-for-6 with RISP and stranded seven ... Game Time: 3:25.
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