Manny's Blast Keys 4-Run, 8th-Inning Rally

This is the kind of win that teams look back on as a turning point in the season.

It was the second straight night Manny Ramirez has come through with a clutch hit. The usual suspects -- Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis -- also had big hits in the 8th-inning rally which was started by a leadoff double from Jacoby Ellsbury.

This is the offense we have been waiting for and the one that will be even better when David Ortiz returns to the lineup.

BOX SCORE: Red Sox 6, Twins 5

Brandon Moss also was huge in the victory coming through with a sacrifice fly in the 7th and the game-winning RBI single to cap the 8th-inning rally.

Playing Moss in place of the struggling Coco Crisp turned out to be a huge move by Terry Francona and one that we'll hopefully see more of.

The Red Sox also were able to win on a night when Jon Lester didn't have his best stuff, although he was able to pitch into the 8th.

Francona surprisingly left Lester in to start the 8th and it almost backfired as he allowed a couple of hits and a run that made it 5-2 twins. Even though he won't admit it, the struggles of the bullpen had to contribute to that decision.

The Sox made up a game on the Rays who lost to the Yankees. Should we be rooting for the Yankees in this brief series? I don't think I can do it. I'd rather see the Rays keep the Yankees down and then hopefully the rays will cool off in the second half. As long as the Sox take care of business it will all work out anyway.