Twins fall to Red Sox: Brooks Lee booms, Jhoan Duran in-game trade scare

The game Tuesday night had a bit of everything, including another loss for the sinking Twins.

Jul 29, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Brooks Lee (2) hits a two run home run during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images | Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

The Twins lost 8-5 to the Red Sox Tuesday night in Minneapolis, though there were moments of excitement and panic for Minnesota fans thanks to Brooks Lee's off-the-bench performance and an interesting moment featuring Jhoan Duran in the bullpen.

Duran, whose name has been in trade rumors for weeks now, was seen hugging the bullpen catcher in the middle of the game. The moment was caught on TV, prompting speculation that he was saying goodbye to his teammates — presumptively for a yet-to-be-announced trade. But that wasn't the case, as was reported later on by MLB insider Jeff Passan.

"Jhoan Duran has not been traded. He was just hugging his bullpen catcher because that's what friends do sometimes," Passan said.

Jhoan Duran has not been traded. He was just hugging his bullpen catcher because that's what friends do sometimes.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2025

Jhoan Duran and the bullpen catcher just pump faked a trade by hugging and leaving the pen

Top 5 troll ever pic.twitter.com/4LWPVJJ99w

— AT (@YankeeWRLD) July 30, 2025

As for the game, Lee came off the bench after Carlos Correa exited with an illness and he proceeded to drive in a run with a two-out hit in the fifth inning and then crush two-run homers in the seventh and ninth innings, respectively.

Brooks Lee hits a 415 ft dinger into the pen pic.twitter.com/Pu6WjQYhlh

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) July 30, 2025

Brooks Lee is on another level tonight. He just homered again - this time from the left side.

Two homers.
Five RBIs.
All the Twins runs.
Playing like a franchise cornerstone.
Absolute baller.#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/PIdwhkAt2x

— Talkin' Twins (@TalkinTwins) July 30, 2025

The loss, however, drops the Twins to 51-56, six games out of the wild-card race with five teams ahead of them in the race for the final playoff spot. The trade deadline is at 5 p.m. CT Thursday.