Brooks Lee's walk-off single seals a 5-4 Twins win over the Red Sox on July 29, 2025, capping a day of trades. Buxton homers in the dramatic victory.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when you thought a 90-minute rain delay was all the drama Target Field had in store, Brooks Lee decided to write his own script. The rookie shortstop delivered a stunning two-run, two-out single in the bottom of the ninth, lifting the Minnesota Twins to a wild 5-4 walk-off victory over the Boston Red Sox and providing a much-needed jolt of electricity on a day filled with front-office fireworks.
With the game on the line, rookie Brooks Lee finished 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs, delivering the game-winning two-run single in the bottom of the ninth.
After a long rain delay, the Twins and Red Sox traded blows all night. Simeon Woods Richardson gave a solid start, going six innings with seven strikeouts while allowing three runs. But the offense, led by a scorching Byron Buxton who went 3-for-4 with a homer, kept Minnesota in it. Down 4-3 heading into the final frame against Red Sox closer Jordan Hicks, the stage was set for a hero. After a rally loaded the bases, Brooks Lee stepped to the plate and laced the game-winning single, snapping a two-game skid and injecting life back into the clubhouse.
While the players battled on the field, the front office was busy reshaping the roster. In a significant move ahead of the trade deadline, the Twins dealt pitchers Chris Paddack and Randy Dobnak to the division-rival Detroit Tigers. Paddack, who had a 4.95 ERA in 21 starts this season, ends a four-year tenure marked by flashes of brilliance and frustrating inconsistency. The move signals a clear shift in strategy, as the 50-55 Twins appear to be retooling. In a separate transaction, the team also acquired catcher Enrique Jimenez from the Red Sox, adding depth behind the plate.
The major trade wasn't the only pitching news of the day. The Twins continued to search for reliable bullpen arms, selecting the contract of veteran RHP Michael Tonkin from Triple-A St. Paul. Tonkin gets his first MLB look of 2025 after recovering from a shoulder strain. To make room, RHP Travis Adams was optioned back to Triple-A, and RHP Connor Gillispie was designated for assignment after a brutal stretch with the Saints where he posted a 14.49 ERA. The message is clear: the search for effective relief pitching is far from over.
One day, two narratives. A thrilling walk-off win that reminds us of the team's potential, and a blockbuster trade that forces us to look toward the future. With the trade deadline looming and the team sitting at 50-55, today's events feel like a turning point. Can the energy from Lee's game-winner propel them on a run, or was the Paddack trade the first of many moves signaling a new direction? One thing is certain: the next few days for the Minnesota Twins will be anything but boring.
