Mitch Garver hit a tiebreaking RBI double with two outs in the eighth inning, and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat Boston 2-1 on Thursday night.
Kyle Gibson (5-7) limited Boston to four hits and one run in eight innings. Fernando Rodney surrendered a single and back-to-back walks to load the bases in the ninth, but he struck out Jackie Bradley Jr. to complete the five-hitter and earn his 22nd save in 27 opportunities.
The Twins (48-53) have won four straight and moved within seven games of idle Cleveland. Boston (71-33) has lost three of five. Its lead in the AL East fell to 4½ games over the New York Yankees.
