Red Sox topple Twins behind Sandoval, Moreland

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Pablo Sandoval hit two homers, driving in four runs, and Mitch Moreland added a pair of two-run doubles to lift the Red Sox to a 12-5 win over the Twins on Saturday at Hammond Stadium.
Sandoval hit a solo homer as part of a five-run fourth before crushing a three-run homer in the five-run sixth. The third baseman has three homers this spring.
"I feel good," said Sandoval. "I'm working every day in the cage on little things I've been doing with the hitting coach. I've been working real hard to get to this point to feel free in my swing."

Minnesota jumped out to an early lead, as right-hander Rick Porcello struggled, allowing four runs in the first before settling in. Joe Mauer had an RBI single before Max Kepler drove in two runs with a triple and scored on a wild pitch.

"I wasn't executing pitches well," said Porcello. "Settled in and definitely got better as the game went on. Overall, I'd like to be a lot more consistent with fastball command."
The Red Sox struck back with two runs in the second against right-hander Ryan Vogelsong, who is competing for the fifth spot in Minnesota's rotation. Blake Swihart and Dustin Pedroia each had RBI singles in the second.

"I feel like I made some good adjustments, but things got out of whack there a little bit with two outs in the second," said Vogelsong, who allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over three innings. "I know what I am now. I'm a command guy. I know my velocity is going to get there. It's been this way the last couple years. I'm trying to get ahead and make them put the ball in play, but today there was a bunch of foul balls."

Knuckleballer Steven Wright, who is projected to be in the rotation for the Red Sox, was impressive with three scoreless innings of relief. Boston took the lead with a five-run fourth against Minor League relievers Jake Reed and Trevor Hildenberger. Sandoval started the rally with a deep homer to right-center before top prospect Andrew Benintendi tied the game with an RBI groundout.
Hildenberger relieved Reed and promptly gave up an RBI single to Mookie Betts and a two-run double to Moreland.

Twins second baseman Brian Dozier, who homered on Friday, went 3-for-3 with a double, while Moreland, Pedroia and Swihart each had two hits for Boston. Moreland's second two-run double came in the sixth off right-hander Nick Tepesch. Tepesch also served up Sandoval's three-run homer.
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Red Sox Up Next: Left-hander Drew Pomeranz makes his second start of Spring Training in Sunday afternoon's 1:05 p.m. ET home game against the Twins on MLB.TV. Closer Craig Kimbrel will get an inning. Lefty reliever Robby Ross Jr. will also see action. Hanley Ramirez should be back in the lineup at designated hitter after getting Saturday off.
Twins Up Next: The Twins travel up the street to JetBlue Park for the 12:05 pm. CT start against the Sox on MLB.TV. Rule 5 Draft pick Justin Haley faces his former organization as he tries to compete for a spot on Minnesota's roster. Haley's most likely role will be as a reliever, but he'll continue to get stretched out so the Twins can see what they have in him.
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