Entering today, opposing starters had recorded a quality start (at least six innings, no more than three runs) in eight of the 14 games against the Twins, tied for the most quality starts recorded against any club in the majors this year. It looks like Minnesota is about to take sole possession of first place in that inglorious category.

Tim Wakefield flew threw the top of the 6th in 11 pitches, getting three straight fly-outs to center off the bats of Joe Crede, Mike Redmond and Nick Punto. Wakefield has needed just 85 pitches through six frames.

Redmond might not understand much about deciphering the riddle of Wakefield’s knuckleball, but he’s been a source of great insight about Marlins-turned-A.L. East pitchers over the years. He was a personal catcher, at various times, for Matt Clement, Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett.

BOTTOM 6: RED SOX 6, TWINS 1

Craig Breslow remained in to start the sixth, striking out right-hander Nick Green. But Jacoby Ellsbury followed by continuing his recent dynamism at the plate, slashing a single to center. The Sox leadoff hitter is 2-for-4 today, and 12-for-35 (.343) in his last seven games. His exuberance got the better of him: Ellsbury took off for second prematurely, and was picked off by Breslow on a 1-3-4 play. The play is officially ruled a caught stealing, and so Ellsbury is now 6-for-8 on steals to start the year.That allowed Breslow to make it through a relatively expedient sixth. Dustin Pedroia flied to the warning track in left-center for the final out of the inning.

It’s Earth Day, and so there are lots of cameos by cows on the NESN broadcast. I don’t know what else to say about that. Moo.

RED SOX 6, TWINS 1