By MAUREEN MULLEN
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Kyle Gibson settled down after serving up a leadoff homer to Mookie Betts, striking out seven in an encouraging pitching performance that helped the Minnesota Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 9-4 on Wednesday night.
Brian Dozier hit his second home run of the spring for the Twins. Eddie Rosario had a two-run homer and Byung Ho Park added a two-run double as Minnesota scored four times off Koji Uehara in the fifth inning.
Uehara was making his second appearance after his 2015 season ended on Aug. 7. The right-hander broke his wrist when he was hit by a line drive.
Gibson went 3 1-3 innings and allowed one run. Miguel Sano had two hits and an RBI for the Twins.
Ortiz, A-Rod break silence
Alex Rodriguez and David Ortiz are back on speaking terms.
For the first time in more than two years, the sluggers talked before A-Rod and the New York Yankees beat Big Papi and the Red Sox 6-3 Tuesday night.
Their relationship soured after Ortiz thought a comment from Rodriguez’s lawyer — that some players were using performance-enhancing drugs and not being held accountable — was directed at him. The lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, later insisted it wasn’t aimed at Ortiz.
That led to a definite frost on their friendship for quite a while. Now, there might be a thaw.
“I’m happy for him,” Rodriguez said. “He’s in a good place.”
“I love Big Papi. I have a lot of respect for him. I think he’s been an incredible ambassador for the game. I’m looking forward to him leaving the game at a height. And for him to leave the game.,” he said.
Ortiz and Rodriguez both launched their careers in the Mariners’ system and had stayed friends despite both going on to play for several different teams, even when they found themselves on opposite sides of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry.
Ortiz announced on his 40th birthday in November that he will retire after this season. Rodriguez, who will turn 41 in July, was asked what he thought Yankees-Red Sox games would be like without Ortiz.