Red Sox Wrap: Boston Begins Critical Series Vs. Twins With Deflating Loss

BOSTON -- The Red Sox looked to make a final, last-ditch push for a playoff spot and it got off to a bad start Friday night with a 4-2 loss in 12 innings against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox dropped to 76-78 while the Twins improved to 81-73 and now hold a five-game lead over Boston for the final American League wild-card spot with eight games remaining.

Check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
The Red Sox don't have any room for error on the field or in the standings with the season winding down.

And they couldn't walk the tightrope to begin a critical series against the Twins.

The Red Sox certainly had their chances to come away with a win. They entered the seventh inning with a one-run lead and could have got out of the inning with a double play, but Rafael Devers and Enmanuel Valdez botched the execution of it to allow the Twins to level the score.

Boston also had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the eighth when they loaded the bases with two outs, but the Red Sox couldn't push a run across with Ceddanne Rafaela harmlessly popping out to end the inning. Boston also put runners on the corners in the ninth and two more in scoring position in the 11th frame, but came up empty yet again.

The Twins got to Cooper Criswell for three runs in the 12th before they closed it out in the bottom half of the inning.

The Red Sox certainly will look back at their 17 runners left on bases, 20 strikeouts and 1-for-19 effort with runners in scoring position and be frustrated that they didn't pull out a win in this one.

STARS OF THE GAME
-- Matt Wallner provided a key insurance run for the Twins in the top of the 12 with an RBI single to right that proved to be the difference in the game.

-- Trevor Story opened the scoring for the Red Sox in the bottom of the fourth inning when he singled to right-center to plate Triston Casas. He went 2-for-4 with two walks.

-- Richard Fitts performed well again in just his third career start. The right-hander tossed five scoreless innings in which he scattered five hits, walked one and struck out three. He has yet to allow an earned run over the first 15 2/3 innings of his big-league career.

ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox will try to get back at the Twins on Saturday. Kutter Crawford will get the start for Boston with first pitch from Fenway Park scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET. You can watch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.