Sox unlikely heroes batter Twins 11-8

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Boston Red Sox are finally enjoying a big week offensively.

Jeff Frye hit his first home run in more than a year, seldom-used Scott Hatteberg had a three-run homer and the Red Sox got a stellar relief performance from John Wasdin to beat the Minnesota Twins 11-8 Wednesday night. It was Boston's third straight win.

Boston's offense -- ranked 10th or 11th in the American League in most major categories -- has awakened in a big way. In the first three games of the four-game series against the Twins, the Red Sox have scored 36 runs and hit 10 home runs.

''It was spread all the way up and down the lineup,'' Boston manager Jimy Williams said. ''I always felt we have good hitters on this team.''

Every Boston starter had at least one hit, and Ed Sprague, Nomar Garciaparra and Frye had two each.

''It's nice to score 30 runs in three games,'' Sprague said. ''We've been swinging the bat well.''

Jeff Fassero, activated from the disabled list before the game, gave up four runs in 1 2-3 innings and has yielded 12 earned runs in seven innings over three starts. He had been out since June 19 with a cervical strain and weakness in his left shoulder.

Wasdin (1-3) gave up one hit in 4 1-3 innings of relief to pick up his first win of the season.

Minnesota's David Ortiz hit a pinch-hit three-run homer off Rich Garces in the ninth, and Jacque Jones followed with a solo shot off rookie Tim Young. Derek Lowe got three outs for his 19th save in 23 chances, ending Minnesota's four-run rally.

Twins starter Mark Redman (5-4) was even worse than Fassero. Redman went two-plus innings, giving up six earned runs on five hits and three walks. Redman is 2-4 in seven starts after starting the season as one of the Twins' most promising prospects.

RED SOX 11, TWINS 8

BOSTON MINNESOTA

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Offrmn 1b 5 1 1 0 CGzmn ss 5 1 1 0

Frye 2b 5 2 2 2 Hcking cf 4 1 1 0

CEvrtt cf 3 2 1 0 Lawton lf 5 0 2 3

Grcprr ss 4 1 2 1 Coomer 1b 5 0 1 1

Brkhrt dh 3 1 1 2 Huskey dh 4 0 1 0

O'Lry lf 4 1 1 0 Koskie 3b 3 1 0 0

Gilkey rf 4 1 1 0 Moeller c 4 1 1 0

Sprgue 3b 5 1 2 3 Cnizaro 2b 3 1 1 0

Httberg c 5 1 1 3 DOrtiz ph 1 1 1 3

JMxwll rf 0 1 0 0

JJones cf 3 1 1 1

Totals 38 11 12 11 Totals 37 8 10 8

Boston 207 000 200 -- 11

Minnesota 220 000 004 -- 8

DP--Minnesota 1. LOB--Boston 8, Minnesota 5. 2B--CEverett (16), Garciaparra 2 (27), Sprague (1), CGuzman (13), Lawton (27), Huskey (13). HR--Frye (1), Hatteberg (4), DOrtiz (4), JJones (13).

IP H R ER BB SO

Boston

Fassero 1 2-3 5 4 4 2 3

Wasdin W,1-3 4 1-3 1 0 0 0 2

Garces 2 2 3 3 1 1

TYoung 0 1 1 1 0 0

DLowe S,19 1 1 0 0 0 2

Minnesota

Redman L,5-4 2 5 6 6 3 1

Hawkins 3 2 3 3 2 2

TEMiller 2 4 2 2 1 3

Lincoln 2 1 0 0 0 1

Garces pitched to 3 batters in the 9th, TYoung pitched to 1 batter in the 9th, Redman pitched to 4 batters in the 3rd.

HBP--by Lincoln (O'Leary), by Hawkins (Burkhart). WP--Hawkins.

T--3:19. A--8,488 (48,678).