CSN: Twins shell Webster, run away from Sox

Allen Webster found out the hard way that things can get tougher the second time around.

Just 2 1/2 weeks after he sparkled in his major league debut, the Red Sox top pitching prospect was shelled for eight runs in just an inning and two-thirds of work as the Red Sox were pounded by the Minnesota Twins, 15-8.

The loss was the fourth in the last five games for the Sox and dropped them into a tie for first place with Baltimore in the American League East.

Webster faced 14 Twins and allowed two homers and three doubles before being lifted in favor of Felix Doubront, whose spot in the rotation Webster took.

Doubront fared little better in relief, hammered for six runs on 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings, with his fastball again topping out at 91 mph.

Five Twins collected multiple RBI, with Trevor Plouffe and Pedro Florimon driving in three runs each.

Jonny Gomes belted a grand slam over everything in left in the first. Shane Victorino contributed a solo homer in the second.

AT A GLANCE

STAR OF THE GAME: Trevor Plouffe
Plouffe had three of the Twins 19 hits, with a sacrifice fly in the first, a run-scoring double in the second, singles in the third and seventh and a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

HONORABLE MENTION: Ryan Pressly
After starter Pedro Hernandez stumbled, Pressly came out of the bullpen and gave the Twins four scoreless innings of relief to earn his first win and save the Minnesota pitching staff.

GOAT OF THE GAME: Allen Webster
This wasn't the same Webster who was so impressive in his major league debut 2 1/2 weeks ago. Webster found himself trailing 4-0 after six hitters in the first -- and it was all downhill from?there.

TURNING POINT: After a grand slam from Jonny Gomes and a run-scoring single by Stephen Drew in the bottom of the first, the Red Sox actually held a lead. But in the second, it was more trouble for Webster and reliever Felix Doubront as the Twins kept piling on for seven more runs and never looked back.

BY THE NUMBERS: David Ortiz, who had a 27-game hitting streak dating back to last season, was 0-for-5 and saw the streak come to an end.

QUOTE OF NOTE: "Listen, Cy Young Award-winners have to work on their craft every day, so it's no different from him. Sometimes they take their bumps and bruises, too.'' -- Pitching coach Juan Nieves on what he'll tell Webster.

Source: http://www.csnne.com/blog/red-sox-talk/webster-shelled-red-sox-pounded-twins-15-8