Rookie Brooks Lee's walk-off single lifts the Minnesota Twins to a 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on July 29, 2025. Recap the wild ninth-inning thriller.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when you thought the night was lost to a Boston comeback and a lengthy rain delay, rookie Brooks Lee reminded everyone that baseball is never over until the final out. Stepping into the box after midnight, Lee laced a two-run single into the outfield, capping a wild ninth inning and giving the Minnesota Twins a dramatic 5-4 walk-off victory over the Red Sox.
With two outs and the season's narrative hanging in the balance, Brooks Lee delivered the biggest hit of his young career, turning a potential loss into an instant classic at Target Field.
The game, which stretched past midnight due to a 90-minute rain delay, was a roller coaster. The Twins jumped ahead early on DaShawn Keirsey Jr.'s two-run homer in the third. But as they've done so often this season, they couldn't hold the lead. Boston's Alex Bregman erased it with a three-run blast in the fifth. After Christian Vázquez tied it with a sacrifice fly, it felt like a classic nail-biter. Boston clawed ahead in the top of the ninth with a go-ahead single from Roman Anthony, setting a grim stage for the Twins' final at-bat. But after a Willi Castro walk and a Mickey Gasper single, Lee played the hero, sending the Target Field faithful home ecstatic.
The on-field drama was matched by a flurry of off-field moves. The Twins bolstered their bullpen by calling up veteran Michael Tonkin, who returns from a shoulder strain after posting a solid 4.82 ERA in St. Paul. To make room, struggling righty Travis Adams was optioned back to Triple-A, while Connor Gillispie was designated for assignment. In a more significant move, the team acquired catcher Enrique Jimenez from the Detroit Tigers for long-time Twin Randy Dobnak. Jimenez provides much-needed depth behind the plate, while Dobnak, who had a tough 7.12 ERA in Triple-A, gets a fresh start in Detroit.
As thrilling as Lee's walk-off was, it can't erase the team's reality. At 51-55, the Twins sit 10 games back in the AL Central and 5.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. With the trade deadline just 48 hours away, the front office is reportedly listening to offers on key veterans. Today's roster shuffle feels like the prelude to bigger moves. Are the Twins officially sellers? Will a fan favorite be on the move? This win provides a moment of joy, but the team's direction for the rest of 2025 will be decided in the coming days.
For one night, the focus was on a rookie's heroics and a resilient team win. But the clock is ticking. The next 48 hours will reveal whether this team is gearing up for a miracle run or retooling for 2026. Enjoy the victory, Twins Territory, but brace yourselves for what comes next.
