Monroe powers Twins past Red Sox

MINNEAPOLIS -- Craig Monroe hit two of light-hitting Minnesota’s three home runs and drove in four runs, and the Twins hung on for a 9-8 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night.

Joe Nathan gave up two runs in the ninth inning, but won a showdown with pinch-hitter Manny Ramirez by getting him to ground out to shortstop with the tying run on second base to pick up his 12th save in as many chances.

The Twins, who began the game with a major league-low 17 home runs, had not hit more than one in a game before Sunday. Adam Everett also hit a home run for the Twins.

Boston’s knuckleball specialist Tim Wakefield (3-2) gave up seven runs -- six earned -- and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings, the earliest he was knocked out since June 20, 1997, at Detroit, when he lasted 2 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox chipped away at Nick Blackburn (3-2), getting three runs in the fourth inning and a two-run homer from Coco Crisp against Matt Guerrier in the seventh to cut the deficit to 8-6.