Minnesota Twins overcome Byron Buxton injury in series opener against Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park

Buxton left the game, but there were other big talking points in the series opener.

There were plenty of high notes in the Minnesota Twins' 8-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday, but all of them were overshadowed by Byron Buxton leaving the field at Fenway Park with an apparent knee injury after sliding into second base after a leadoff pop-fly double to start the game. 

The Twins say Buxton left because of "right knee soreness," though further details about his injury and a possible timeline for his return haven't been provided. 

Without Buxton, the Twins took an early 1-0 lead when Luis Arraez drove in Nick Gordon, who pinch ran for Buxton. Minnesota plated three runs in the second inning, fueled by a two-run homer by Miguel Sano and an RBI double from Arraez. Gary Sanchez drove in two with a single in the fifth to give starting pitcher Joe Ryan a 6-1 lead.

Joe Ryan fired six strong innings, striking out seven and allowing just one run on a solo home run to Alex Verdugo. Jhoan Duran pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning and then got into some trouble in the eighth, allowing an RBI double to Kiki Hernandez and then a two-run homer to Rafael Devers. 

The Twins bounced back with a pair of runs in the ninth, the first on an RBI single by Max Kepler and the second on a bases-loaded groundout by Trevor Larnach that scored Jorge Polanco.

Emilio Pagan pitched a clean ninth inning to close out the victory for the Twins. 

Noteworthy: Duran threw 34 pitches and eight of them were over 100 mph and he got 11 swings and misses. Here's how each batter fared against Duran, pitch-by-pitch: 

Alex Verdugo vs. Duran

1. 102 mph fastball, ball outside
2. 97 mph splinker, swing and a miss
3. 97 mph splinker, weak groundout to first base

Trevor Story vs. Duran

1. 101 mph fastball, ball high
2. 101 mph fastball, swing and a miss
3. 90 mph slider, ball way outside
4. 102 mph fastball, just outside
5. 97 mph splinker, foul ball
6. 98 mph splinker, swinging strikeout

Bobby Dalbec vs. Duran

1. 99 mph fastball, swing and a miss
2. 98 mph fastball, sharp groundout to second base

Jackie Bradley Jr. vs. Duran

1. 83 mph curve ball, swing and a miss
2. 85 mph curve ball, double to right-center field

Christian Vazquez vs. Duran

1. 97 mph splinker, strike looking
2. 96 mph splinker, swing and a miss
3. 99 mph fastball, just outside
4. 96 mph splinker, foul ball
5. 84 mph curve ball, ball insider
6. 96 mph splinker, swinging strikeout

Kiki Hernandez vs. Duran

1. 96 mph splinker, RBI double down the left-field line

Rafael Devers vs. Duran

1. 101 mph fastball, foul ball
2. 99 mph fastball, ball just outside
3. 98 mph fastball, 2-run home run to right field

Xander Boegarts vs. Duran

1. 99 mph fastball, strike looking
2. 91 mph slider, swinging strike
3. 89 mph slider, ball outside
4. 88 mph slider, ball outside
5. 98 mph fastball, swinging strikeout

J.D. Martinez vs. Duran

1. 91 mph slider, ball just outside
2. 101 mph fastball, swing and a miss
3. 100 mph fastball, foul ball
4. 89 mph slider, ball outside
5. 100 mph fastball, foul ball
6. 99 mph splinker, swinging strikeout

Minnesota takes its 3-4 record into Saturday's 3:10 p.m. game against the Red Sox. The Twins will send Sonny Gray to the mound and the Red Sox will go with Tanner Houck.