In a disappointing turn of events for the Boston Red Sox, they fell to the Minnesota Twins with a final score of 5-2 at Target Field on Friday night. The loss not only halted Boston's chances of breaking the Twins' double-digit winning streak but also extended Minnesota's impressive run to 11 consecutive victories.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, Minnesota held a narrow 1-0 lead. With runners on first and second, Twins center fielder Willi Castro attempted a bunt to advance the runners. Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire aimed to initiate a double play by making a throw to second base. However, his throw went off-target, allowing the Twins to capitalize on the opportunity.

Adding to Boston's woes, reliever Naoyuki Uwasawa committed a pitch clock violation during the inning, resulting in a four-run surge for the Twins. This extended Minnesota's advantage and ultimately proved insurmountable for the Red Sox.

While some could question McGuire's decision to attempt a difficult throw on the run, Boston's manager, Alex Cora, remained supportive of his players. He acknowledged that if McGuire had executed the play successfully, the inning could have been wrapped up with just one more pitch. Cora attributed the missed opportunity to a simple error in execution rather than dwelling on the outcome.

Looking ahead, the Red Sox have an opportunity to bounce back in the three-game series against the Twins. The second game is scheduled for Saturday at 2:10 p.m. ET. Boston will be hoping to turn their fortunes around and secure a much-needed victory.

Fans can catch the live coverage of the game on NESN, with pregame analysis starting at 1 p.m. ET. The Red Sox will be eager to put Friday's setback behind them and showcase their resilience in an attempt to halt the Twins' impressive winning streak.