His career high in home runs is 16 in 2007, but Youkilis is already halfway there this season after hitting his eighth homer Saturday night in Boston’s 5-2 victory. Six of those long balls have come in the last seven games, including five to help the Red Sox go 4-2 through the first six games of their 10-game road trip.

During an eight-game hit streak, Youkilis is batting .424 (14-for-33) with five doubles, 14 RBIs and 10 runs scored to go with the six homers. Hitters less heralded than Youkilis also helped Boston on Saturday, as Coco Crisp and Jed Lowrie hit back-to-back homers from the bottom two spots in the lineup in the seventh inning to give the Red Sox the lead. The power supply raised Boston to 44-20 against the money line in May games over the last three seasons.

“It is a little ironic,” Twins starter Glen Perkins said. “You’ve got (Ortiz and Ramirez) and got them to ground out a few times, got them to strike out. And then the eight, nine hitters, those are the guys you don’t want to hurt you. You expect the other guys that might do the damage, but that is the game of baseball.” Even with the long balls, the Twins and Boston have played UNDER seven of last eight in the Land of 10,000 recently unfrozen Lakes.

Boston starter Tim Wakefield (3-1, 3.33 ERA) has been solid all season - allowing three earned runs or fewer in six of his seven starts - but he pitched a gem in his last outing. The 41-year-old knuckleballer limited the Tigers to two hits over eight innings Tuesday as the Red Sox won 5-0 at Detroit. “When I establish I can throw strikes with my knuckleball, it helps make my other pitches better,” said Wakefield, who struck out a season-high six and didn’t walk a batter. Wakefield has excelled against Minnesota over the years, going 13-4 with a 4.00 ERA in 24 appearances, including 21 starts. He’s 15-4 UNDER in road games over the last two seasons. (Red Sox Record)

The Twins (18-17, +2.4 units), who have alternated wins and losses over their last six games, will counter with rookie Nick Blackburn (2-2, 3.65). The 26-year-old right-hander has pitched his best at the Metrodome, going 2-1 with a 1.66 ERA at home compared with an 0-1 record and 5.56 ERA in four road outings. Minnesota has won once in five tries when Blackburn is a starter off a loss.

He turned in a quality road start Tuesday, allowing three earned runs over six innings, but got charged with the loss in a 7-1 defeat to the Chicago White Sox. Blackburn also took the loss in his only career appearance against the Red Sox, a 6-4 defeat last Sept. 29, when he gave up four runs - three of them on a homer by J.D. Drew - in one inning of relief.

With Wakefield, Boston is a -120 favorite with total Un9 at Bookmaker.com. This is the Red Sox seventh straight road contest and they are 2-10 in road games after six or more consecutive road games over the last two years. Minnesota is only 21-37 after scoring two runs or less since the beginning of 2007 campaign and lately has performed poorly in Game 3’s of series with 2-8 mark.

ESPN has the coverage starting at 8:05 Eastern on Mother’s Day evening, so share one last moment with mom and tell her Wakefield and the Red Sox are 19-5 UNDER on the road when the total is 8.5 to 10 over the last three seasons.

 

 

MATT BROWN, STATS Editor contributed to this article.