Boston @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2011 ) Boston 4, Minnesota 3

THE STORY: The visiting Boston Red Sox go for a sweep of Minnesota on Wednesday and their sixth straight win over the fading Twins. Boston’s 4-3 victory Tuesday pushed its lead in the American League East to 2½ games over the New York Yankees. One big key has been closer Jonathan Papelbon, who has converted a career-high 21 straight save chances after throwing a perfect ninth Tuesday. The flamethrower has posted at least 25 saves in each of his first six seasons, which is a major league record. Minnesota, meanwhile, has lost six straight overall.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Nick Blackburn (7-9, 4.58 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Jon Lester (11-5, 3.23).

Blackburn has been awful in six of his last eight starts, allowing at least four runs without finishing the sixth inning in any of the six. Opponents are batting .302 against him. He is 2-1 with a 4.00 ERA, though, in five appearances against Boston. Lester has allowed a total of six earned runs in his last five starts, and opponents are hitting .232 against him. He has been lights out on the road this season, going 8-1 with a 2.75 ERA. But in six career appearances against the Twins, he is 1-2 with a 4.67 ERA.

ABOUT THE TWINS (51-65): Starter Scott Baker was put on the disabled list with a strained right elbow, a move that guarantees Blackburn will stay in the rotation at least a while longer. The Twins rank 27th in the majors in on-base percentage (.307). Center fielder Denard Span should be back in the lineup after getting Tuesday off. Span is in an 0-for-12 slump, with manager Ron Gardenhire saying he hasn’t gotten back his timing since he suffered a concussion.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (72-43): Boston leads the majors in runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Its depth was evident Tuesday as No. 9 hitter Darnell McDonald homered into the upper deck. Reliever Bobby Jenks, on the DL with a back injury, spent a few days in the hospital with an illness before being released Tuesday.

FINAL PITCH: With an 8-1 record this season, Boston reliever Alfredo Aceves is 22-2 in his career. He is the first big-league pitcher to win 22 of his first 24 decisions.