BOSTON — Rubby De La Rosa matched his first career Fenway Park start with another seven impressive innings and A.J. Pierzynski had a sacrifice fly, lifting the Boston Red Sox to a 1-0 win over the Minnesota Twins Monday night.

Mike Napoli helped cut down a runner trying to score with a heads up play in a Red Sox victory that came after a pair of one-run losses. Boston is 9-15 in one-run games.

De La Rosa (2-2) gave up only a single in the third inning as he combined with three relievers on a three-hitter. He walked three and fanned three.

Andrew Miller struck out the only batter he faced, Burke Badenhop got two outs and Koji Uehara three outs to remain perfect in 15 save chances. He extended his streak to 31 straight saves over the past two regular seasons.

Kevin Correia (3-8) gave up five hits, walking one and striking out two in six innings.

In his other Fenway start, on May 31, De La Rosa also pitched seven shutout innings, holding Tampa Bay to four hits. He had given up four runs over 5 2-3 innings in each of his last two starts — both on the road.

The 25-year old right-hander, acquired in Boston’s salary dump deal that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford to the Los Angeles Dodgers in August of 2012, is taking injured starter Clay Buchholz’s spot in the rotation.

The Twins have lost three straight.

Badenhop loaded the bases, but struck out Brian Dozier to end the eighth.

The Red Sox moved ahead 1-0 in the fifth on Pierzynski’s sacrifice fly after Daniel Nava singled and advanced on Stephen Drew’s single.

Boston’s Dustin Pedroia had a single and has reached safely in all 29 career starts against the Twins.

Heads up defense by Napoli kept the Twins from scoring in the third.

San Fuld drew a leadoff walk and stole second. Danny Santana then singled to center. Napoli cut off the throw home, with Fuld holding at third, and caught Santana in a rundown. But, just he ran toward Santana, Napoli turned and fired home, catching Fuld in a rundown where he was eventually tagged out.

Correia pitched six shutout innings in his last start, earning the win at Toronto.

NOTES: Buchholz, on the 15-day DL with a hyperextended right knee, is scheduled to make his second rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday. … Red Sox 3B Will Middlebrooks, on the DL and recovering from a fractured right index finger, and OF Shane Victorino, on the DL for the second time this season with a strained right hamstring, are both also on rehab assignments with Pawtucket. Manager John Farrell said before the game that he hopes to get Victorino back on the upcoming West Coast trip, which begins Thursday in Oakland.

Copy the Story Link