Hicks Struggles as Red Sox Suffer Walk-Off Loss to Twins

Baseball fans in Minneapolis got a wild finish last night. The Boston Red Sox suffered a tough 5-4 walk-off loss to the Minnesota Twins after a rain delay that totally flipped the game’s momentum.

Let’s dig into the pivotal moments, the rain delay’s impact on reliever Jordan Hicks, and the standout performances. There’s also plenty to wonder about how this kind of setback could shake up the Red Sox’s bullpen and roster in the coming days.

The Rain Delay That Changed Everything

The ninth inning should’ve been routine for Red Sox closer Jordan Hicks, who came in with a slim 4-3 lead. But, as luck would have it, heavy rain stopped the game for a brutal 90 minutes before Hicks even threw a pitch.

Once play resumed, Hicks struggled. He lost command, looked rusty after the long wait, and just couldn’t find his groove. It unraveled fast—he gave up a leadoff single, plunked two batters, and then watched Twins rookie Brooks Lee deliver a walk-off two-run single.

How Did the Rain Delay Impact Hicks’ Performance?

Hicks admitted the delay threw off his whole routine. Even though he warmed up twice during the break, he couldn’t get back to where he needed to be.

The Twins, meanwhile, made the most of their downtime. They practiced against Hicks’ pitch profiles in the cages, and it showed. Minnesota’s hitters looked ready, while Hicks couldn’t quite lock in. Closers need to stay sharp, and last night, the conditions just didn’t let that happen.

A Depleted Bullpen Leaves Little Room for Error

The Red Sox came in with a bullpen already running on fumes. Manager Alex Cora’s options were basically maxed out.

Aroldis Chapman was out with back tightness. Garrett Whitlock was sick. Other relievers had either pitched too much lately or weren’t available. Hicks got tossed into the fire with hardly any backup, and when the rain hit, things just spiraled.

Red Sox Relievers: A Tough Night for Everyone

Starter Richard Fitts only made it through four innings, giving up three runs. That forced Cora to lean on his bullpen way earlier than he’d planned.

The heavy workload could mean roster moves soon—Fitts might get sent down to Triple-A so they can call up a fresh arm. Boston’s going to have to rethink bullpen strategy and rotation depth after a night like that. It’s not really optional at this point.

Bright Spots in a Tough Loss

Even with the loss, there were some moments worth cheering. Alex Bregman’s three-run homer in the fifth put Boston ahead, and it was a shot that really showed his knack for big moments.

In the ninth, rookie Roman Anthony came through with a go-ahead RBI single. David Hamilton also made things happen on the bases, swiping both second and third before Anthony drove him in. Those flashes? They’re the kind of thing you remember, even after a rough night.

Final Takeaways: Lessons Amidst Frustration

After the game, Cora put it bluntly: “There’s nothing you can do against Mother Nature.” He’s not wrong—weather delays are just part of baseball, but they rarely go sideways like this.

For Hicks, it’s all about shaking this off and getting back into rhythm. The Red Sox front office, meanwhile, has some tough calls to make about their bullpen and roster flexibility. No easy answers here, but that’s baseball.

Can the Red Sox Bounce Back?

The loss showed just how thin Boston’s pitching depth really is. Still, you can’t ignore the flashes of promise from their younger guys.

The AL East isn’t exactly forgiving, so the Red Sox need to sort out their bullpen issues. Building on those offensive highlights could make a real difference.

From dramatic home runs to those gut-punch walk-offs, this is the kind of baseball that keeps people watching. Sometimes it’s thrilling, sometimes it just stings.

After this rain-soaked heartbreak, the Red Sox have to shake it off and get ready for whatever’s next on the diamond.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Hicks unable to weather storm in Boston’s walk-off loss