BOSTON -- Joe Mauer put an end to Thursday's wild and sloppy game in fitting fashion.

The Minnesota first baseman dribbled a bunt in front of the plate with runners on first and second and nobody out in the ninth inning, and the Twins wound up scoring the winning run in their 8-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday after an error at third base.

"It wasn't a pretty game for either team," Twins manager Paul Molitor said, referring to five combined errors and double-digit hits surrendered by each side.

Mauer's bunt was picked up by Red Sox rookie catcher Blake Swihart, who promptly fired the ball to third baseman Pablo Sandoval, but it shot under his glove and rolled into left field, allowing second baseman Brian Dozier to score.

"It's not a good feeling putting a sacrifice bunt on for that guy, but he squared and just didn't get it out there very far," Molitor said. "But fortunately they didn't execute and get the lead runner."

Sandoval insisted that Swihart's throw short-hopped him, but he still took the blame.

"I tried to do everything I could to stop the ball," he said. "(It got) under my glove."

Just for good measure, Minnesota tacked on three runs in the inning.

Third baseman Trevor Plouffe and shortstop Eduardo Escobar each doubled with one out and left fielder Shane Robinson hit a sacrifice fly to score another run.

Minnesota (32-21) won three of four games in Boston (24-31) after a three-game sweep at home last week.

"It was a great team effort," said right fielder Torii Hunter, who made history in the fifth inning with his 200th career home run as a member of the Twins. "We battled."

Left-hander Aaron Thompson (1-1) picked up the win in relief, giving up a hit in a scoreless eighth. Southpaw Glen Perkins converted his 21st consecutive save.

Left-hander Tommy Milone got a no-decision, surrendering four runs (two earned), nine hits and a walk in five innings.

Red Sox closer Koji Uehara (2-3) failed to get an out in the ninth and took the loss. The right-hander gave up four runs (one earned) and three hits before being yanked.

Boston's Steven Wright extended his streak of quality starts to six to open the year but had a no-decision. The right-handed knuckleballer allowed three earned runs and six hits and struck out two in six innings.

"The best way I can describe it we made both physical and mental errors in this one, particularly in the second half of the game," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "We had ample opportunities early on to stretch a lead (and) we don't get a key hit. We did a good job of giving ourselves a number of baserunners."

Boston failed to capitalize on three infield hits that loaded the bases in the first inning, but it was more fortunate in the second.

With two outs and runners on first and second, left fielder Hanley Ramirez reached on a soft dribbler between the pitcher and first baseman.

Center fielder Mookie Betts rounded third on the play and appeared to be hung out to dry when Mauer fired across the diamond to Plouffe, who mishandled the throw. Betts scored to make it 1-0.

Another run crossed the plate when designated hitter David Ortiz sent a ball to Escobar at short, but it deflected off his glove for an error. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia charged home from second to give Boston an early two-run cushion.

Swihart hit his first career home run with two outs in the third, launching a 2-2 pitch over the Green Monster in left to make it 3-0.

Pedroia followed an inning later with a solo shot over the Monster on a 1-2 pitch for his eighth home run of the season. It was his 13th hit in the last seven games against the Twins.

Minnesota's offense kicked into gear in the middle innings.

Hunter's milestone homer in the fifth to put the Twins on the board. The right