Alfredo Aceves struck out Denard Span with the bases loaded in the ninth inning for his fourth save in six chances as the Red Sox completed the sweep.

Dustin Pedroia tripled, doubled and singled for the Red Sox. The Twins have dropped five in a row.

Clay Buchholz (2-1) had another shaky outing for the Red Sox, giving up five runs on 10 hits with three walks in 5 1-3 innings.

The Red Sox led 7-1 after five innings, but their beleaguered bullpen was able to hang on with 3 2-3 scoreless innings of relief.

Aceves walked Trevor Plouffe, gave up a hit to Ryan Doumit and hit Alexi Casilla in a tense ninth inning. But he got Span to chase a pitch up and out of the zone to escape the jam.

Joe Mauer had two hits and two RBIs and Anthony Swarzak pitched three innings of scoreless relief to keep the Twins in the game after another terrible outing from their starting pitcher.

Liam Hendriks (0-1) gave up seven runs on nine hits and two walks in four innings.

Aviles hit a three-run homer in the second inning and the Red Sox were cruising with a six-run lead heading into the sixth. But after the Sox blew a 9-0 lead against the Yankees on Saturday, no one was taking anything for granted.

Buchholz needed all the cushion he could get, and so did the Boston bullpen, which entered the night with the worst ERA in the American League. Buchholz carried a 9.00 ERA into the game, with his confidence in his changeup shaken and still smarting from giving up five home runs in a 6-2 loss to the Yankees last week.

Buchholz danced in and out of trouble for the first five innings, stranding eight runners on base before getting knocked out in the sixth. The right-hander gave up an RBI double to Span and left after walking Jamey Carroll to load the bases with one out in the sixth. Bobby Valentine went with righty Scott Atchison to face the lefty Mauer, who ripped a single back up the middle to score Casilla.

Valentine then went to the rookie lefty Justin Thomas against the lefty Justin Morneau, who hit the first pitch off the wall in right-center field for a double to make it 7-5.

Thomas then hit Chris Parmelee in the helmet with a pitch. The crowd grew hushed after the ball slammed off the bill of Parmelee’s helmet and bounced all the way over to the Red Sox dugout. Parmelee left the game for precautionary reasons, and the team said he would be reevaluated on Thursday.

Matt Albers then gave up a single to Plouffe to make it 7-6, but got Sean Burroughs to ground into a double play to end the inning with Boston still in front.

Vicente Padilla, Franklin Morales and Aceves each pitched an inning of scoreless relief and the runs surrendered by Atchison, Thomas and Albers were charged to Buchholz.

Cody Ross went 1 for 3 with an RBI for the Red Sox but left the game early with soreness in his left knee.

NOTES: Twins slugger Josh Willingham missed the game to attend the birth of his son, Rogan. Willingham is on three-day paternity leave. … The Red Sox open a four-game series in Chicago against the White Sox on Thursday. They send Felix Doubront (0-0, 3.94) to the mound to face Phil Humber (1-0, 0.63), who is coming off of a perfect game in his last outing. It’s been a big week for Humber, who flew home from Oakland to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. “I hope he’s tired,” Valentine said. … The Twins have a day off on Thursday before hosting the Kansas City Royals this weekend. RHP Carl Pavano (1-2, 4.73) will start the opener on Friday against Royals LHP Danny Duffy (1-2, 3.63).

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mike Aviles homered and the Boston Red Sox bullpen just barely avoided another big collapse in a 7-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins last night.

Sox 7, Twins 6

Alfredo Aceves struck out Denard Span with the bases loaded in the ninth inning for his fourth save in six chances as the Red Sox completed the sweep.

Dustin Pedroia tripled, doubled and singled for the Red Sox. The Twins have dropped five in a row.

Clay Buchholz (2-1) had another shaky outing for the Red Sox, giving up five runs on 10 hits with three walks in 5 1-3 innings.

The Red Sox led 7-1 after five innings, but their beleaguered bullpen was able to hang on with 3 2-3 scoreless innings of relief.

Aceves walked Trevor Plouffe, gave up a hit to Ryan Doumit and hit Alexi Casilla in a tense ninth inning. But he got Span to chase a pitch up and out of the zone to escape the jam.

Aviles hit a three-run homer in the second inning and the Red Sox were cruising with a six-run lead heading into the sixth. But after the Sox blew a 9-0 lead against the Yankees on Saturday, no one was taking anything for granted.

Buchholz needed all the cushion he could get, and so did the Boston bullpen, which entered the night with the worst ERA in the American League. Buchholz carried a 9.00 ERA into the game, with his confidence in his changeup shaken and still smarting from giving up five home runs in a 6-2 loss to the Yankees last week.

Buchholz danced in and

out of trouble for the first five innings, stranding eight runners on base before getting knocked out in the sixth.

MINNEAPOLIS ? 

Mike Aviles homered, and the Boston Red Sox bullpen just barely avoided another big collapse in a 7-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins last night.

Alfredo Aceves struck out Denard Span with the bases loaded in the ninth inning for his fourth save in six chances as the Red Sox completed the sweep.

Dustin Pedroia tripled, doubled and singled for the Red Sox. The Twins have dropped five in a row.

Clay Buchholz (2-1) had another shaky outing for the Red Sox, giving up five runs on 10 hits with three walks in 5-1/3 innings.

The Red Sox led, 7-1, after five innings, but their beleaguered bullpen was able to hang on with 3-2/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Aceves walked Trevor Plouffe, gave up a hit to Ryan Doumit and hit Alexi Casilla in a tense ninth inning. But he got Span to chase a pitch up and out of the zone to escape the jam.

Joe Mauer had two hits and two RBIs and Anthony Swarzak pitched three innings of scoreless relief to keep the Twins in the game after another terrible outing from their starting pitcher.

Liam Hendriks (0-1) gave up seven runs on nine hits and two walks in four innings.

Aviles hit a three-run homer in the second inning, and the Red Sox were cruising with a six-run lead heading into the sixth. But after the Sox blew a 9-0 lead against the Yankees on Saturday, no one was taking anything for granted.

Buchholz needed all the cushion he could get, and so did the Boston bullpen, which entered the night with the worst ERA in the American League. Buchholz carried a 9.00 ERA into the game, with his confidence in his changeup shaken and still smarting from giving up five home runs in a 6-2 loss to the Yankees last week.

Buchholz danced in and out of trouble for the first five innings, stranding eight runners on base before getting knocked out in the sixth. The right-hander gave up an RBI double to Span and left after walking Jamey Carroll to load the bases with one out in the sixth. Bobby Valentine went with righty Scott Atchison to face the lefty Mauer, who ripped a single back up the middle to score Casilla.

Valentine then went to the rookie left-hander Justin Thomas against the lefty Justin Morneau, who hit the first pitch off the wall in right-center field for a double to make it 7-5.

Thomas then hit Chris Parmelee in the helmet with a pitch. The crowd grew hushed after the ball slammed off the bill of Parmelee’s helmet and bounced all the way over to the Red Sox dugout. Parmelee left the game for precautionary reasons, and the team said he would be reevaluated today.

Matt Albers then gave up a single to Plouffe to make it 7-6, but got Sean Burroughs to ground into a double play to end the inning with Boston still in front.

Vicente Padilla, Franklin Morales and Aceves each pitched an inning of scoreless relief and the runs surrendered by Atchison, Thomas and Albers were charged to Buchholz.

Cody Ross went 1 for 3 with an RBI for the Red Sox but left the game early with soreness in his left knee.

Doctor’s visit

Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford is going to see Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on the left elbow that has plagued him since he reported to spring training.

Valentine said yesterday that Crawford was in the process of scheduling a visit with Andrews, one of the best-known orthopedic surgeons in the business. Valentine called the visit “a fact-finding mission,” but didn’t have many more details about it.

Crawford had surgery in January on his left wrist and has not played in a game this season. He has been feeling discomfort in his elbow as well, and flew to Boston earlier this week for an examination by team doctors.

Valentine says he hasn’t heard that surgery would be needed at this point.

Diamond Dust

Twins slugger Josh Willingham missed the game to attend the birth of his son, Rogan. Willingham is on three-day paternity leave. … The Red Sox open a four-game series in Chicago against the White Sox tonight. They send Felix Doubront (0-0, 3.94) to the mound to face Phil Humber (1-0, 0.63), who is coming off of a perfect game in his last outing. It’s been a big week for Humber, who flew home from Oakland to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. “I hope he’s tired,” Valentine said.

Mike Aviles homered and the Boston Red Sox bullpen just barely avoided another big collapse in a 7-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins last night.

Alfredo Aceves struck out Denard Span with the bases loaded in the ninth inning for his fourth save in six chances as the Red Sox completed the sweep.

Dustin Pedroia tripled, doubled and singled for the Red Sox. The Twins have dropped five in a row.

Clay Buchholz (2-1) had another shaky outing for the Red Sox, giving up five runs on 10 hits with three walks in 5 1-3 innings.

The Red Sox led 7-1 after five innings, but their beleaguered bullpen was able to hang on with 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Aceves walked Trevor Plouffe, gave up a hit to Ryan Doumit and hit Alexi Casilla in a tense ninth inning. But he got Span to chase a pitch up and out of the zone to escape the jam.

Joe Mauer had two hits and two RBIs and Anthony Swarzak pitched three innings of scoreless relief to keep the Twins in the game after another terrible outing from their starting pitcher.

Liam Hendriks (0-1) gave up seven runs on nine hits and two walks in four innings.

Aviles hit a three-run homer in the second inning and the Red Sox were cruising with a six-run lead heading into the sixth. But after the Sox blew a 9-0 lead against the Yankees on Saturday, no one was taking anything for granted.

Buchholz needed all the cushion he could get, and so did the Boston bullpen, which entered the night with the worst ERA in the American League. Buchholz carried a 9.00 ERA into the game, with his confidence in his changeup shaken and still smarting from giving up five home runs in a 6-2 loss to the Yankees last week.

Buchholz danced in and out of trouble for the first five innings, stranding eight runners on base before getting knocked out in the sixth. The right-hander gave up an RBI double to Span and left after walking Jamey Carroll to load the bases with one out in the sixth. Bobby Valentine went with righty Scott Atchison to face the lefty Mauer, who ripped a single back up the middle to score Casilla.

Valentine then went to the rookie lefty Justin Thomas against the lefty Justin Morneau, who hit the first pitch off the wall in right-center field for a double to make it 7-5.

Thomas then hit Chris Parmelee in the helmet with a pitch. The crowd grew hushed after the ball slammed off the bill of Parmelee’s helmet and bounced all the way over to the Red Sox dugout. Parmelee left the game for precautionary reasons, and the team said he would be reevaluated today.

Matt Albers then gave up a single to Plouffe to make it 7-6, but got Sean Burroughs to ground into a double play to end the inning with Boston still in front.

Vicente Padilla, Franklin Morales and Aceves each pitched an inning of scoreless relief and the runs surrendered by Atchison, Thomas and Albers were charged to Buchholz.

Cody Ross went 1 for 3 with an RBI for the Red Sox but left the game early with soreness in his left knee.

NOTES: Twins slugger Josh Willingham missed the game to attend the birth of his son, Rogan. Willingham is on three-day paternity leave. … The Red Sox open a four-game series in Chicago against the White Sox tonight. They send Felix Doubront (0-0, 3.94) to the mound to face Phil Humber (1-0, 0.63), who is coming off of a perfect game in his last outing. It’s been a big week for Humber, who flew home from Oakland to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. “I hope he’s tired,” Valentine said.

MINNEAPOLIS — Despite a late-game letup and some scary moments in the ninth inning, the Boston Red Sox weren’t going to complain about a win and a series sweep on the road. After building another big lead, the Red Sox survived a Minnesota Twins rally Wednesday, winning 7-6 to sweep the three-game series at Target Field. “We got a win. That’s what it’s all about at the end,” Rex Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. Mike Aviles hit a three-run home run, and Dustin Pedroia went 3-for-4 for the Red Sox, who improved to 4-5 away from Fenway Park. Clay Buchholz (1-2) pitched 5 1/3 innings and got the win despite allowing five runs on 10 hits. “Clay was very much improved,” Valentine said. “He kept the ball down much better and had a very good curveball tonight. That’s the best curveball I’ve seen him have.” Boston closer Alfredo Aceves came on in the ninth and ran into trouble, walking Trevor Plouffe, giving up a single to Ryan Doumit and hitting Alexi Casilla to load the bases. However, Aceves struck out Denard Span to get his fourth save in six opportunities. Minnesota trailed 7-1 before making a charge in the sixth, sending 10 men to the plate in the inning and scoring five times. Span and Justin Morneau both hit RBI doubles, and Buchholz was chased from the game after 107 pitches. The scariest moment of the game came with two on and one out, as Red Sox reliever Justin Thomas threw an inside fastball that hit Twins first baseman Chris Parmelee on the brim of his batting helmet. “You never want to see that happen to anybody,” said Thomas, admitting he was rattled when he came out of the game. “I was going up and in, and it just ran in a little more than I wanted it to. He stayed in on it, and it ran back into him.” After lying motionless at the plate for more than a minute, Parmelee was helped up by trainers and left the field under his own power. Thomas was pulled from the game and left to a chorus of boos from the crowd of 32,254. Thomas said he sent a message over to the Twins clubhouse and said he was hoping that Parmelee was doing OK. The Twins took their fifth consecutive loss. “It will be good to get them a day off. A little bit of a break here,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Regroup for the weekend and hopefully we’ll play a better series this weekend and win some ballgames and get back on the road. It’s been a long stretch here of 15 games, with some tough travel and some tough baseball teams, and we’re breathing, let’s put it that way.” After a quiet first inning, the Boston bats came to life in the second. David Ortiz walked, went to second on a Kevin Youkilis single, then scored when Cody Ross singled to center. With two on and two outs, Aviles homered to left, giving Boston a 4-0 lead. Minnesota got a run back in the second when Ben Revere doubled and scored on Casilla’s single to center. But the Red Sox soon rebuilt their lead. With runners on second and third and two outs in the third inning, Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled to center and rounded first. Caught in a rundown, Saltalamacchia avoided the tag long enough to allow both Pedroia and Adrian Gonzalez to score for a 6-1 Boston lead. The Red Sox added another run in the fifth when Pedroia hit a leadoff triple, then scored on Gonzalez’s RBI single. Minnesota had chances to chip away, putting runners in scoring position in each of the first four innings, but Buchholz hung on. “It’s been like that all year,” Buchholz said. “I think I’ve had two clean innings. It’s a struggle when you’re out there throwing pitches and guys are putting them in play. That’s got to change. It can’t stay like that all year.” Twins starter Liam Hendriks (0-1) was lifted in the fifth after allowing nine hits. He was charged with seven runs. “Without a doubt, I let the team down completely tonight,” said Hendriks, who was making his third start of the season. NOTES: Revere started in left for Minnesota after Josh Willingham went on paternity leave. Willingham’s wife, Ginger, gave birth to the couple’s third son, named Rogan, on Wednesday afternoon at a Twin Cities hospital. … Gonzalez was responsible for nearly half of the 31 pitches Hendriks threw in the first inning. Gonzalez fouled off nine pitches and bounced out to short on the 15th pitch of the at-bat to end the inning. … Ross left the game in the sixth inning due to soreness in his left knee. … Wednesday was the fifth time this season that the Red Sox have had 10 or more hits in a game, which is tied with Texas for the best in baseball.

MINNEAPOLIS — The struggles of the Minnesota Twins’ starting pitchers continued Tuesday, as the Boston Red Sox put on an offensive show, winning 11-2 at Target Field. Nick Blackburn (0-3) allowed eight hits in three innings. His replacement, Matt Maloney, gave up another eight in less than two innings as the Twins dropped their third in a row. The Red Sox got 18 hits, improving to 2-0 on their seven-game, seven-day road trip. Mike Aviles tied a career best with four hits, including two doubles and a solo home run, and Adrian Gonzalez went 3-for-3 with three runs. Josh Beckett (2-2) labored early but settled down, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out five in six innings. Minnesota’s starting pitchers are now a collective 2-10 for the season and have allowed 122 hits, which is the most in baseball. Boston hit Blackburn early and often in the first inning, taking a 3-0 lead when five of their first six batters got a hit. Aviles sent the third pitch of the game to the wall for a double. Two pitches later, he was back in the dugout, as Ryan Sweeney’s RBI single brought Aviles home. David Ortiz added an RBI single in the inning, and Cody Ross’ bases-loaded groundout scored another run. Beckett had his own struggles early, needing 37 pitches to get through the first inning but allowing only one run. After Jamey Carroll reached on a fielder’s choice, Beckett walked Joe Mauer, Josh Willingham and Justin Morneau to give the Twins their first run. Beckett traded harsh words with plate umpire Adrian Johnson as he left the field after retiring Ryan Doumit and Danny Valencia to leave the bases loaded. Boston added two more in the third, when Blackburn walked Gonzalez, then gave up a 429-foot homer to right by David Ortiz. Blackburn, who had missed his previous start due to right shoulder tightness, was lifted at the end of the third after giving up eight hits and five runs. Matt Maloney came on in relief for the Twins and fared no better, as the Red Sox tacked on two in the fourth, including a solo homer by Aviles, and three more in the fifth to lead 10-1. Minnesota got one back in the fifth. Denard Span doubled but was retired at third on a fielder’s choice, with Carroll reaching second. Willingham’s double down the left field line scored Carroll. NOTES: The first-inning single and third-inning homer by Ortiz gave him 28 hits for the season, which is the most through 16 games in Red Sox history for a left-handed hitter. … The Twins will call up Ben Revere from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday, when left fielder Josh Willingham will take a paternity leave from the team. Willingham’s wife, Ginger, is expecting the couple’s third child. … After starting above .500 after 15 games in 13 consecutive seasons (1997-2009), the Red Sox were sub-.500 after 15 games for the third season in a row.

MINNEAPOLIS ? 

Cody Ross homered twice last night, tying the game with a two-run shot in the seventh inning and giving Boston the lead with two outs in the ninth. The Red Sox hung on to beat the Minnesota Twins, 6-5, snapping a five-game losing streak.

Starter-turned-temporary-reliever Daniel Bard (1-2) recorded two critical outs in the eighth after the Twins put the leadoff runner on third. Alfredo Aceves picked up the save, his third in five tries, and all was right with the reeling Red Sox for at least one night.

Aceves gave up a one-out single and a high drive to the warning track in left-center to Trevor Plouffe, but Denard Span bounced back to the mound to end it.

Ryan Sweeney misplayed Jamey Carroll’s single into a two-base error that put him at third with none out in that pivotal eighth, after the ball bounded down the right-field line, ricocheted off the padded facade of the seats in foul territory and skidded away.

But Franklin Morales got Joe Mauer to ground out weakly to first base, and Bard retired two of the three batters he faced sandwiched around an intentional walk to Justin Morneau. Josh Willingham greeted Bard with a sharp line drive, but it zipped straight at third baseman Kevin Youkilis for the second out.

Then Ross put the Red Sox in front with his drive off Matt Capps (0-1).

After a rainout on Sunday gave the rotation an extra day of rest, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine put Bard in his struggling bullpen for a few days amid fan calls for the young right-hander to take over for Aceves as the closer. But Bard and Valentine insisted the move was merely temporary, and Bard is still on track to make his next start on Friday.

“I still view myself as a starter, and they said they do, too,” Bard said before the game. He said he “asked a lot of questions” about what the team’s goals were with the decision.

Bard gave the relievers some relief, but the starters still need some, too. Jon Lester allowed six hits, five runs and four walks over seven innings. He struck out four but wasted a 3-0 lead.

Danny Valencia’s two-run homer, his first of the season, followed Ryan Doumit’s two-run double in a four-run fourth for the Twins. Then Plouffe drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, Span singled and a run scored when Carroll grounded into a double play.

Carroll got the Red Sox back for that in the sixth. With one out and runners at the corners, he dived to stop a grounder by David Ortiz up the middle and flipped to the second baseman Plouffe from his stomach with one hand. Then Plouffe whirled around for a perfect relay throw to finish the double play.

The Twins have more modest expectations than do the Red Sox for this season after last year’s 63-99 mess. Their starting pitching has emerged as a significant concern if it wasn’t already this spring.

The rotation has a collective 2-9 record with a 6.46 ERA, last in the major leagues, with 114 hits allowed in 92 innings with only 53 strikeouts.

Gonzalez followed a pair of singles with a sacrifice fly in the first, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia smacked a 0-2 slider into the front part of the section of right-field seats that juts out and hangs above the warning track to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead in the second.

Then after the Twins surged ahead in the fourth, pulled away in the fifth and preserved the two-run edge thanks to Carroll’s slick play at shortstop, Marquis gave the game back to the Red Sox on that two-run drive by Ross that soared high above left field and into the seats.

Notes

Red Sox RH Daisuke Matsuzaka’s rehab start for Class A Salem, his first real game since undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery last June, was rough. He gave up six hits, three runs and two homers in four innings. … CF Marlon Byrd, who went 3 for 43 with the Cubs before being traded Saturday, had a single in his Red Sox debut. … Red Sox IF Nick Punto, who spent seven seasons with the Twins through 2010, checked out the visitor’s clubhouse at Target Field for the first time. But he was more impressed by what he saw on the other side.

“It’s cool to see both Mauer and Morneau healthy,” Punto said.

Daniel Bard went back to the bullpen to help out, and Cody Ross made him a winner.

For at least one night, all was right with the reeling Red Sox.

Ross homered twice, tying the game with a two-run shot in the seventh inning and giving Boston the lead with two outs in the ninth to snap a five-game losing streak for the Red Sox and beat the Minnesota Twins, 6-5, on Monday.

“It’s been a tough go,” Ross said. “Everybody knows how tough it’s been on us, but nobody feels sorry for us. We’re going to keep having to go out there and grind it out.”

Starter-turned-temporary-reliever Bard (1-2) recorded two critical outs in the eighth after the Twins put the leadoff runner on third. Alfredo Aceves picked up the save, his third in five tries.

Aceves gave up a one-out single and a high drive to the warning track in left-center to Trevor Plouffe, but Denard Span bounced back to the mound to end it.

“It gives them some confidence,” Ross said. “We have some guys that are really good out there, and we believe in them as a team.”

Ryan Sweeney misplayed Jamey Carroll’s single into a two-base error that put him at third with none out in that pivotal eighth, after the ball bounded down the right-field line, ricocheted off the padded facade of the seats in foul territory and skidded away.

But Franklin Morales got Joe Mauer to ground out weakly to first base, and Bard retired two of the three batters he faced sandwiched around an intentional walk to Justin Morneau. Josh Willingham greeted Bard with a sharp line drive, but it zipped straight at third baseman Kevin Youkilis for the second out.

“He allowed everybody to be happy campers,” manager Bobby Valentine said.

Bard shrugged off his bullpen appearance.

“Same deal. You’re just trying to get out. You just have a little less time to warm up. That’s it,” he said.

Then Ross put the Red Sox in front with his drive off Matt Capps (0-1), who threw a 92-mph, 0-1 fastball at the kneecaps, a tough one for anyone to hit, let alone far enough to reach seats to the opposite field.

“That’s tough to do. He did it. He hit it,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.

Said Capps: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Cody Ross hit a ball that way. He put it a good swing on it and obviously squared it up well.”

After a rainout on Sunday gave the rotation an extra day of rest, Valentine put Bard in his struggling bullpen for a few days amid calls for the young right-hander to take over for Aceves as the closer. But Bard and Valentine insisted the move was merely temporary, and Bard is still on track to make his next start on Friday.

“I still view myself as a starter, and they said they do, too,” Bard said before the game.

Jon Lester allowed six hits, five runs and four walks over seven innings. He struck out four but wasted a 3-0 lead, after Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s two-run homer in the second.

Danny Valencia’s two-run homer, his first of the season, followed Ryan Doumit’s two-run double in a four-run fourth for the Twins. Then Plouffe drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, Span singled and a run scored when Carroll grounded into a double play.

Still, Valentine fervently praised the way Lester bounced back with strong a sixth and seventh.

“Nothing changed physically or mentally, but something got me locked in,” Lester said.

Around the bases

Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka’s rehab start for Class A Salem (Va.), his first real game since undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery last June, was rough. He gave up six hits, three runs and two homers in four innings. … CF Marlon Byrd, 3 for 43 with the Cubs before being traded Saturday, had a single in his Red Sox debut. … Twins starters are 2-9 with a 6.46 ERA, last in the majors.

MINNEAPOLIS — Cody Ross hit two home runs as the Boston Red Sox rallied for a 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night, snapping a five-game losing streak. Ross, who signed with Boston as a free agent in the offseason, cranked a two-run homer to tie the game 5-5 in the seventh, then added a solo shot in the ninth off Matt Capps (0-1). It was the eighth career multi-homer game for Ross. Daniel Bard (1-2) got the win for Boston, pitching out of a jam in the eighth. Alfredo Aceves pitched the ninth inning for his third save of the year, surrendering only a one-out single to Chris Parmelee. The Twins have lost three in a row. Trailing by two in the seventh, the Red Sox pulled even when Jarrod Saltalamacchia singled, then Ross lifted a long home run into the second deck in left field. Jon Lester started and went seven innings for Boston, but he is still looking for his first win of the season. He gave up five runs on six hits and four walks, striking out four. The Twins looked to be on the brink of taking the lead in the eighth when Jamey Carroll led off with a single into the right field corner. Ryan Sweeney misplayed the ball for a two-base error, and Carroll ended up on third with no outs. But Franklin Morales got Joe Mauer to bounce out, then gave way to Bard. Josh Willingham lined out, and Bard intentionally walked Justin Morneau before getting Ryan Doumit to pop out to shortstop, ending the threat. Jason Marquis started for Minnesota and gave up five runs in 6 1/3 innings. The Red Sox got on the board early, as leadoff hitter Mike Aviles singled, advanced to third on a single by Dustin Pedroia and scored on a sacrifice fly by Adrian Gonzalez. After David Ortiz singled and Kevin Youkilis reached on a fielder’s choice in the second, Jarrod Saltalamacchia plopped his second homer of the season into the front row of the right field seats, giving Boston a 3-0 lead. Lester cruised through the first three innings, but he hit a snag with one out in the fourth. Mauer’s single was followed by a Willingham walk. After Lester struck out Morneau, Doumit doubled to score Mauer and Willingham. Three pitches later, Danny Valencia blasted his first homer of the season into the Red Sox bullpen in deep left-center field, giving Minnesota a 4-3 lead. An inning later, Carroll bounced into the Twins’ big-league-leading 19th double play of the season, but it brought in a run. Trevor Plouffe scored from third base, putting the Twins up 5-3. NOTES: Center fielder Marlon Byrd made his Red Sox debut after coming to Boston in a trade with the Cubs on Saturday night. … Twins catcher Mauer threw out Pedroia on an attempted steal of second base in the first inning. Previously, runners had been 10-for-10 when attempting to run on Mauer this season. … Red Sox utility infielder Nick Punto made his return to Target Field but did not play. Punto spent seven seasons with the Twins.

The Boston Red Sox are reeling. Two-thirds of the starting outfielders are on the disabled list. The club’s two best starters have each turned in a horrendous game already, barely two times through the rotation. There has already been a confrontation between the new manager and a couple of veteran players.

But the most glaring problem with the Red Sox, just 4-7 and mired in last place in the American League East Division following an 18-3 drubbing by the Texas Rangers on April 17, is their wreck of a bullpen.

The ineptitude of the Boston relief corps is epitomized by Mark Melancon, the right-handed reliever acquired in the offseason as a possible replacement for departing free agent closer Jonathan Papelbon. Melancon was coming off a 20-save season for the Houston Astros and, after the Red Sox traded for Oakland A’s closer Andrew Bailey, was projected to be the eighth-inning set up man.

Melancon took the loss for Boston on Opening Day. Then he blew a save by allowing an 11^th-inning walk off home in the third game of the season. He allowed a home run again in the opener of the series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Three appearances, three bad outings. But they were just a preview of his historic meltdown against the Rangers.

In the eighth inning, he faced six batters. All of them scored. He allowed three home runs. He recorded no outs. His ERA for the year is fractionally less than 50.00.

After the game, Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine was open to the possibility that Melancon may have to go to the minors to get straightened out.

“At this time you have to consider everything,” Valentine said. “He’s very concerned. I’m very concerned, obviously. He’s not getting the swings and misses. It seems like he’s searching right now. And so are we. It’s tough when you don’t pitch on a regular basis. He threw a bullpen earlier today with (pitching coach) Bob McClure trying to work something out. I guess it wasn’t the right thing.”

Things are not significantly better in the Red Sox bullpen beyond Melancon. Bailey is likely out until the All Star break. Closer Alfredo Aceves has settled down, but blew his first two save opportunities of the season. Righty Michael Bowden was designated for assignment last week. Lefty Andrew Miller is rehabbing in Florida and pitching very poorly.

The answer to Boston’s bullpen issues may actually be in the rotation. Felix Doubront and Daniel Bard have been as effective as one would expect for fourth and fifth starters. Both have earned the chance to stay where they are. But circumstances may dictate otherwise. With starters Aaron Cook and Daisuke Matsuzaka due back from the injuries over the next month or so, the Red Sox might have no choice but to move both Doubront and Bard back to the bullpen to stabilize the relief corps.

It’s a mess, and it needs to get cleaned up before the Red Sox fall even further behind in the standings. Not that you can get much further behind than last place.

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It’s Red Sox players vs. Bobby V already

Rick Blaine, an award-winning broadcaster and columnist, is a lifelong Red Sox fan. Follow him on Twitter @RickBlaineCT.

Boston, MA —

David Ortiz went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run
and three-run double as the Boston Red Sox pummeled the Tampa Bay Rays, 13-5,
in the second of a three-game set.

Cody Ross also hit a two-run home run and finished with four RBI, Jarrod
Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer while Mike Aviles and Dustin Pedroia added
solo shots for the Red Sox, who have taken the first two games of this set.
Clay Buchholz (1-0) gave up five runs on six hits with three walks and five
strikeouts over seven innings of work.

“I felt really good physically. I felt like in the beginning of the game my
changeup wasn’t there, everything was up,” Buchholz said. “I was trying to be
too quick to the plate out of the stretch and that caused the pitches to be up
in the zone, but after that third inning when I gave up a run everything
started to settle.”

Before the game, the Red Sox placed outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury on the 15-day
disabled list with a shoulder injury which could possibly sideline him
anywhere from six to eight weeks.

Luke Scott hit a three-run home run and drove in four for the Rays, who have
dropped three straight. Jeremy Hellickson went five innings in the start and
gave up five runs on seven hits. Burke Badenhop (0-1) took the loss for giving
up a run in 1 1/3 innings.

“Definitely location,” Hellickson said of the reason for his struggles. “I’ve
got to execute what I want to throw and just didn’t do that.”

Tampa struck early to take the lead. Desmond Jennings led off with a walk and
came home as Carlos Pena followed with a double. The next two batters then
recorded outs, but Ben Zobrist walked to keep the frame alive. Scott then
smacked a pitch over the wall in right for a 4-0 lead.

Boston got on the board in the second as Ryan Sweeney drew a two-out walk and
came home when Saltalamacchia followed with a homer to center to make it a 4-2
contest.

Tampa, though, got it back in the third as Matt Joyce walked and later scored
off a double from Scott.

Pedroia’s one-out, solo shot to left in the third made it a 5-3 contest and
Ortiz tied the game in the fifth when he drilled a 3-2 pitch over the wall in
center with Kevin Youkilis on first base.

The Red Sox took their first lead of the game in the seventh and they did it
right off the bat as Aviles led off the frame with a homer just over the Green
Monster. With J.P. Howell on the mound, Adrian Gonzalez doubled and Youkilis
followed with a walk. A single from Ortiz loaded the bases and Ross brought
home two for an 8-5 lead with a double off the Monster.

Boston turned the game into a rout in the eighth inning as a bases-clearing
double from Ortiz was followed by a home run from Ross for a 13-5 advantage.

Game Notes

Tampa took 12 of the 18 games against Boston last season…Boston had 15 hits
in the game…Buchholz is 5-2 over nine games against the Rays…Felix
Doubront is on the mound for Boston on Sunday while Matt Moore will toe the
rubber for Tampa.