MINNEAPOLIS — Pablo Lopez struck out eight in six strong innings, Max Kepler homered and the Minnesota Twins extended their winning streak to 12 games with a 3-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

The Twins have the longest winning streak in the majors this season. Minnesota’s run matches the team’s winning streak from late in the 1980 season, which is the second-longest in Twins history. The club record for consecutive wins in 15, from June 1991, which is the last season Minnesota won the World Series.

“It’s been fun, and I think you are not seeing guys try to do more than we know what to do. That’s always the biggest thing,” Lopez said.

Kepler and Willi Castro each had two hits, Carlos Correa had two RBI. Closer Jhoan Duran pitched a scoreless eighth inning against the middle of the Red Sox order, and Cole Sands pitched a scoreless final inning for his second save.

“From the outside, people probably wouldn’t have guessed it would be Cole closing it there,” reliever Steven Okert said. “Coaching staff having confidence in all of us is great.”

Wilyer Abreu and Dominic Smith had two hits apiece for Boston, which has lost three consecutive games.

Kepler homered off Cam Booser (0-1) in the fourth inning. Booser was the third of five pitchers used in a bullpen game.

Castro singled leading off the sixth, advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches by Justin Slaten and scored on a sacrifice fly by Correa for a 3-1 lead.

Briefly tended to by trainers after covering first base in the second inning and bumping into the runner after he touched the bag, Lopez allowed five hits and struck out seven of the last 12 hitters he faced.

“To really bunch a bunch of good games together, you need guys to just take the mound and lead the way. And Pablo was excellent today,” Manager Rocco Baldelli said.

“No one wants to be the guy that makes the streak stop in any way, shape or form. I think I just took advantage of the momentum, the good thing that we have going on and I kind of let it take over me and then just let things flow,” Lopez said.

Lopez struck out Rafael Devers on a high fastball with a tying run on third to end the fifth. Devers, who stared at home plate umpire Lance Barksdale for several seconds after a called second strike two pitches earlier, slammed his helmet in disgust.

“That’s part of the game of course, when you go out there, to work out an at-bat and you get one called a strike inside like that, it gets you out of your gameplan. You have to keep battling in that at-bat. You have to keep fighting,” Devers said through an interpreter.

Devers struck out against Okert with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh. This time the bat got spiked.

Boston has gone six consecutive games without a home run, its longest streak since six in a row April 23-28, 2022.

Smith nearly ended that streak leading off the seventh, but his line drive hit high off the wall in right field. The carom was played perfectly by Kepler, who fired a strike to Correa at second. Seeing he was easily out Smith didn’t bother sliding.

“We have put some good at-bats, sometimes some good pressure, but not enough,” Manager Alex Cora said.

    Boston Red Sox’s Rafael Devers reacts after striking out against the Minnesota Twins during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
  

    Boston Red Sox second baseman David Hamilton throws to first base to get out Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Santana during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
  

    Minnesota Twins’ Carlos Correa runs to first base on an RBI groundout against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
  

    Boston Red Sox Tyler O’Neill celebrates his double against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
  

    Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brennan Bernardino delivers against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
  

    Minnesota Twins’ Willi Castro, left, celebrates with Max Kepler, right, after scoring on a sacrifice fly hit by Carlos Correa during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
  

    Minnesota Twins’ Max Kepler is congratulated after his solo home run against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
  

MINNEAPOLIS — The excitement for Wolves fans is palpable, as they move to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in twenty years.

Wolves fandom is now being reflected on canvas, thanks to local artist Adam Johnson. Johnson’s painting of Naz Reid received love on X from Reid, who received his own copy of the art.

On Saturday, Wolves fever spread to Colorwheel Gallery in Minneapolis, where the artist dropped off free Reid posters for fans.

“It’s a great group with great chemistry so I’m really excited for the series,” said Sarah Hargadon from Minnetonka.

It’s not just the Wolves providing optimism right now in Minnesota. With the Minnesota Twins now winning a dozen games in a row, and even the Vikings, drafting Michigan star quarterback J.J. McCarthy, local sports fandom has reached fever pitch, for the moment, at least.

“I’m feeling really good. I think it’s just a really exciting time,” said Hargadon.

“It’s hard to be hopeful with all the scar tissue, but it’s looking bright which is always fun to follow,” said Charlie Wenner from Eden Prairie.

Despite two decades of limited success, fans said they have high hopes for the Wolves to have a strong postseason run.

“If they can beat Denver, which I think they will, then I think they get to the finals,” said Hargadon.

“They’ve looked really good so hopefully they can keep it rolling. There’s no reason to doubt it, unless you see something different,” said Wenner.

“Oh another sweep, yeah sure why not, I mean Denver’s good, but we’re better, and we have Anthony Edwards they don’t,” said Wolves fan Jamie Hoekstra.

Minnesota United announced today the club has signed MNUFC2 goalkeeper Alec Smir (pronounced smurr) to a Short-Term Agreement, making him available for Saturday’s MLS away contest against Atlanta United FC at 6:30 p.m. CT. This is Smir’s second Short-Term Agreement of the season, and is the last time he can be called into the first team for an MLS contest in 2024. Smir still has two Short-Term Agreements available for non-MLS competitions.

Smir has been with MNUFC2 since 2022, the season that the team was founded and began play in MLS NEXT Pro. Since 2022, the goalkeeper has made 22 game appearances (15 starts in net) in regular-season action. This season, Smir made the start and earned a clean sheet following the 3-0 U.S. Open Cup First Round victory at Chicago House A.C. in March. He was on his first Short-Term Agreement last week, making him available on the bench during the Loons’ 2-1 victory at home over Sporting Kansas City on April 27.

The North Carolina native notably was selected to participate in the 2022 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge in the return of “Goalie Wars”, defeating three other MLS NEXT Pro goalkeepers to win the surprise event at Allianz Field in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

TRANSACTION: Minnesota United signs MNUFC2 goalkeeper Alec Smir to a Short-Term Agreement. This is Smir’s second Short-Term Agreement of the season, and is the last time he can be called into the first team for an MLS contest in 2024. Smir still has two Short-Term Agreements available for non-MLS competitions.

Alec Smir
Pronunciation: smurr
Position: Goalkeeper
Date of birth: 4/13/1999 (25 years old)
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 183 lbs.
Birthplace: San Antonio, Texas
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina