Larnach and Wallner get RBI singles in 12th, Twins beat Red Sox 4-2

BOSTON (AP) — Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner both had RBI singles in the 12th inning and the Minnesota Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 on Friday night.

Winning for just the sixth time in their last 17 games, the Twins moved a game ahead Detroit, which lost 8-1 to the Baltimore Orioles, for the American League's third and final wild-card spot. The Twins hold the tiebreaker over the Tigers.

Trevor Story had an RBI single for the Red Sox, who are 7-14 in their last 21 games and trail the Twins by five games with eight to play. They are also behind the Tigers and Seattle.

Red Sox rookie right-hander Richard Fitts became the first in club history — and only the second in the majors since 1901 — to not allow an earned run over five innings or more in his first three big league starts. He gave up five hits with three strikeouts and a walk over five shutout innings.

Cincinnati left-hander Andrew Abbott is the other pitcher to start his career that way, when he also didn’t give up an earned run in his first three starts last season.

With runners on first and third and no outs, Larnach hit a high chop that ticked off the top of the glove of the leaping 6-foot-6 Cooper Criswell (6-5) that scored the go-ahead run. Wallner singled through a drawn-in infield and Willi Castro added a sacrifice fly.

Scott Blewett (1-0) worked the 11th for the victory and Griffin Jax got the final three outs for his 10th save despite allowing a run.

“That was incredibly impressive and gutsy, come up with all the words,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “You feel it watching that game. We felt it in the dugout the whole game. It was a very intense, good type game.”

The Red Sox struck out a club record-tying 20 times and left 17 runners on. The Twins left 15 on base.

“Plenty of chances,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We didn't cash in.”

Both teams left two runners on in the 10th and 11th innings.

“It's good to get back in the win column,'' said reliever Cole Sands, who struck out three in one inning after giving up a leadoff double. ”All the bullpen guys did their job."

The Twins (81-73) are just 11-20 since being 17 games over .500 on August 17.

The 24-year-old Fitts was acquired in an offseason trade from the rival Yankees along with righty Greg Weissert and another minor-league pitcher for outfielder Alex Verdugo.

Story’s single gave Boston a 1-0 edge in the fourth against Minnesota starter David Festa.

The Twins tied it in the seventh when Byron Buxton scored from third on Carlos Correa’s fielder’s choice against Chris Martin on a ground ball not hit hard enough for an inning-ending double play.

Boston left the bases loaded against Jhoan Duran in the eighth when Ceddanne Rafaela lined softy to second.

In his last inning, Fitts escaped a first-and-third, one-out jam by getting Jose Miranda on a fielder’s choice before Carlos Santana flied to right.

Festa allowed only a run and four hits, striking out six and walking three in five innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: 3B Rafael Devers left in extra innings. His shoulders have been nagging him for months. After that game Cora said: “Probably, this is it for him" and that he'll get an MRI on his right shoulder Saturday. ... Placed OF Rob Refsnyder on the 10-day injured list with a strained right forearm. … LF Jarren Duran banged his right arm and shoulder against the Green Monster, making a leaping grab, and was checked on quickly by a team trainer, but stayed in.

UP NEXT

Twins RHP Pablo López (15-8, 3.84 ERA) is scheduled to face Red Sox RHP Kutter Crawford (8-15, 4.19) on Saturday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers (11) is forced out at second base as Minnesota Twins second baseman Willi Castro turns the double play on Tyler O'Neill during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Red Sox's Connor Wong (12) steals second base against Minnesota Twins second baseman Willi Castro, front left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran (16) steals second base against Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher David Festa throws against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Richard Fitts throws against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Red Sox's Trevor Story watches his RBI single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Minnesota Twins pitcher Griffin Jax (22) and catcher Ryan Jeffers, left, celebrate after defeating the Boston Red Sox during the 12th inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

From left to right, Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton, Ryan Jeffers, Griffin Jax and Trevor Larnach celebrate after defeating the Boston Red Sox in 12 innings of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Minnesota Twins' Kyle Farmer (12) scores behind Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong, right, on a single by Trevor Larnach during the 12th inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

LONDON (AP) — He played soccer with Vinícius Júnior in Brazil and walked the runway with pal Joe Burrow in Paris.

Now, he’s bringing the Griddy back to London.

In other words, Justin Jefferson is right at home.

The Minnesota Vikings receiver is embracing the international spotlight and becoming a global star at the right time as the NFL adds more games in foreign cities.

The undefeated Vikings arrived in London on Friday morning ahead of their game against the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

“Just to play in a whole different country, around a whole new fan base, around people that don’t get to see you play — it’s very cool,” Jefferson said at the team's hotel in Watford, England.

“We’re the only country that really plays the sport the way we do. Expanding it and getting some fans in other countries is very cool.”

London is just the latest port of call for Jefferson, who visited Rio de Janeiro in 2023 to spend time with Real Madrid star Vinícius. They played soccer and foot-volley, but Jefferson also learned about Brazilian cuisine and Black artists in the bohemian Santa Teresa neighborhood. At the end of the trip, he wiped away a tear when reflecting on the experience.

In June, Jefferson hit Paris a couple of weeks after signing a four-year extension — the richest contract in NFL history for a non-quarterback. Jefferson and Burrow — their 2019 season at LSU ended with the national championship — got dressed up to walk the Vogue World 2024 runway, the trip all detailed by the fashion magazine.

The 25-year-old Louisiana native also toured Rome this summer with his parents and one of his older brothers as part of a promotion with a travel company.

That was followed by a starring role in the Netflix documentary series “Receiver,” in which Jefferson opens up about his alter ego “Jets,” his love of Sour Patch Kids candy and his tight relationship with his parents and brothers.

It's all marketing gold for a league that hopes to play as many as 16 international games each year. Brazil hosted its first NFL game this season. Spain gets its first game next season, to be played in Real Madrid's iconic and newly renovated Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

“Justin Jefferson is a great example of the type of young athlete in the NFL that we would like to make a face of the NFL internationally and especially in the U.K. and obviously with the Vikings being active here, that makes sense,” said Henry Hodgson, general manager of the NFL’s UK office.

The league's “global markets program” gives teams rights in selected countries to sign commercial deals and hold events for fans. The Vikings have the U.K. as one of their markets — Canada is the other.

Jefferson said playing a game in Brazil would be “phenomenal.”

“I feel like having one in Italy would be a fire place to have one. Paris would be a fire place to have one,” he added. “Wherever, it will be a different vibe and a different culture just being in a different country.”

Jefferson, the NFL's co-leader in TD receptions (4) entering Week 5, made a great first impression in the U.K. two years ago when the Vikings beat the New Orleans Saints 28-25. He had 10 receptions for 147 yards and a rushing touchdown — and of course he hit the Griddy.

“It's a blessing. To go from my mom telling me I need a touchdown celebration to now the whole world is doing the celebration — kids doing it left and right, and it's still going five years after I first hit it,” he said.

He has something planned for Sunday in the end zone, but “I just can’t let you know right now.”

The Vikings are running an ad on a large video screen above the entrance to the busy Euston Underground Station in London. Jefferson features prominently in it as does rejuvenated quarterback Sam Darnold.

Jefferson's Vikings jersey was the No. 2 best seller in the U.K. in September, the league said, second only to that of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

The league recruited Jefferson as a global flag football ambassador in 2023.

“When players lean into that international travel and obviously enjoy the idea of both visiting overseas and playing overseas, it does make the fanbase like them," Hodgson said.

“Obviously, it helps that he’s a big character, a fantastic player on the field and someone that fans, regardless of what team you support, he’s one of those players in the NFL that people look out for because he’s an exciting player to watch.”

AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell contributed from Eagan, Minnesota.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18), left, talks to head coach Kevin O'Connell during a practice session at The Grove in Watford, England Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) looks on during NFL football practice at The Grove in Watford, England Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson speaks during a news conference after NFL football practice at The Grove in Watford, England, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) catches a pass over Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson warms up before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, right, scores a touchdown past Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)