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Red Sox get pair of Ortiz homers in win over Twins

MINNEAPOLIS – David Ortiz insists he isn’t trying to do anything special to show the Minnesota Twins they made a big mistake by letting him go in 2002.

It just looks that way every time he crushes another ball into the Target Field seats.

Ortiz homered twice and drove in six runs to torment his former team once again, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 12-5 win over Minnesota on Saturday.

“It used to be,” Ortiz said when asked if there was extra motivation when he played the Twins. “Not anymore. I just go about my business. I try to hit the moon every time I go to hit anywhere. It’s not new.”

Ortiz also had a single and a walk, raising his batting average this season to .362.

“His performance is as good as you’re going to find in the league right now,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

Craig Breslow (1-0) got the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Dustin Pedroia had two hits, two walks and an RBI for Boston, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Daniel Nava also went deep as the Red Sox won a fourth straight game following a slide in which they had lost 10 of 14.

Scott Diamond (3-4) gave up six runs on eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings for the Twins, who have lost four in a row to fall into last place in the American League Central. Joe Mauer, back in the lineup after sitting Friday with a stiff back, extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a pair of hits, and Pedro Florimon had two hits and two RBIs.

Ortiz is 19-for-37 with five homers and 16 RBIs in his career at Target Field.

“The one guy we say don’t let beat us is David Ortiz,” said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire. “They’ve got a lot of really good hitters over there, but we told them to stay away from this guy, don’t give in to him. And he keeps sending souvenirs.”

Boston outfielder Shane Victorino, a St. Anthony High School graduate, and shortstop Stephen Drew sat because of back injuries. Farrell said both were hopeful of playing today.

Red Sox starter Ryan Dempster needed 127 pitches to get through just 4 2/3 innings. He gave up five runs on eight hits and six walks.

“I just couldn’t get consistency with any of my pitches,” Dempster said.

The Twins left 13 runners on base.

Diamond and Dempster were facing each other for the second time this year, becoming the first pair of Canadian starters to meet more than once in a season since at least 1920, according to the Red Sox.

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