Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Jason Kubel went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI and Joe Mauer drove in two runs during a three-hit effort, as the Twins opened Target Field with a 5-2 victory over the Red Sox.
In Progress: Twins Open Shiny New Target Field Against Red Sox
The home opener for Minnesota was a little more special this year, as the franchise said goodbye to the closed setting of the Metrodome and opened its new outdoor home with a convincing win behind Carl Pavano (2-0), who hurled six innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits and a walk in the win.
Jon Rauch put the finishing touches on the memorable victory with a perfect ninth for his fifth save in as many chances on the young season.
Boston's Jon Lester (0-1) lasted just five innings in his second straight start, as the lefty surrendered four runs on nine hits and three walks. David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia each drove in a run for the Red Sox, who took the rubber match of a three-game series against the Royals, 8-6, on Sunday.
Red Sox outfielder and leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury bruised his ribs colliding with teammate Adrian Beltre in that win and sat out Monday. He is listed as day-to-day after X-rays revealed no broken bones.
The temperature at the time of the first pitch was a calm 65 degrees Fahrenheit in Minneapolis, and Mauer quickly brought the crowd to its feet by throwing out Marco Scutaro trying to steal second after his leadoff single.
Denard Span walked to lead off the home first and Orlando Hudson followed with a base hit to right. After Mauer and Justin Morneau each recorded outs, Michael Cuddyer and Kubel hit consecutive run-scoring singles for a 2-0 lead.
Nick Punto led off the second with a single, stole second and raced home on Mauer's bloop double down the left field line.
Ortiz's two-bagger scored Kevin Youkilis to get the Red Sox on the board in the fourth, but the Twins got the run back in the bottom half on another two- out, RBI hit by Mauer that benefited from hitting the second base bag.
In the seventh, Kubel got a hold of a Scott Atchison slider and crushed it into the right field seats for the first home run in the new park and a 5-1 lead.
Jeremy Hermida doubled off Brian Duensing to open the away eighth and moved to third on a single by Scutaro. Matt Guerrier limited the damage to a run on Pedroia's sacrifice fly, as Victor Martinez grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
The Twins played at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome for 28 years. This was their first home game in a non-indoor venue since leaving the old Metropolitan Stadium after the 1981 season...Pavano, who entered with a 7.07 ERA in six career starts against Boston, struck out four, compared to five punchouts for Lester...Boston had won seven of its previous nine meetings with the Twins... Following an off-day Tuesday, Minnesota will throw Kevin Slowey against Boston newcomer John Lackey...The Twins stranded 11 runners in the win.
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