MINNEAPOLIS — By the end of the fifth inning, the Red Sox had chased two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana from the mound. Meanwhile, their own starter, Julian Tavarez, would pitch through the sixth and allow just four hits.

So how was it that the Red Sox ended up on the wrong end of a 2-1 decision to the Minnesota Twins last night?

Surely, it wasn’t for lack of opportunities. The Sox had baserunners in every inning but one. In five innings, the Sox had more than one baserunner.

But they were unable to produce the key hit against Santana or any of the four relievers who followed him, resulting in their eighth loss in their last 10 tries at the Metrodome.

The setback snapped the Red Sox’ three-game winning streak and was their first road loss since April 17. The Sox had won seven in a row away from home.

The Sox stranded 12 runners, including seven in scoring position. They were 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and 3-for-14 with runners on base.

Santana left after needing 96 pitches to get 15 outs.

“We made him work,” said Terry Francona. “But we didn’t have much to show for it.”

“We had our opportunities,” said Dustin Pedroia, whose fourth inning ground-rule double produced the lone Red Sox run. “But when you get those opportunities, it’s tough to come through. He does well with runners on. That’s why he’s tough.”

A rare bit of wildness by Santana loaded the bases in the first, but he got Mike Lowell to ground to third. In the second, singles by Jason Varitek and Pedroia gave the Sox two on and one out, but Julio Lugo lined into an inning-ending double play.

“There’s a reason why (Santana’s) so good,” said Kevin Youkilis. “When he gets into trouble, he gets out of trouble. That’s what the best pitchers do.”

The Twins bullpen was any less of a challenge for the Sox. Over the final four frames, the Sox were blanked despite four walks and an error.

Closer Joe Nathan, summoned with two out in the eighth, got pinch-hitter Alex Cora to fly to left, stranding two. In the ninth, after Youkilis reached on a one-out error by Nick Punto, Nathan retired David Ortiz on a 400-foot flyout, then fanned Manny Ramirez for the final out.

Tavarez, who has drawn tough opponents in every one of his first five starts, deserved a better fate.

The only two runs off him came in the second when his outfield defense and his own command both temporarily deserted him.

Justin Morneau lifted a liner to center that Wily Mo Pena initially broke back on. When he recovered, the ball dropped just in front of Pena and J.D. Drew and Pena compounded things by bobbling the ball and enabling Morneau to take second.

Tavarez then issued consecutive walks to Jason Kubel and Jeff Cirillo, filling the bases.

A fielder’s choice by Jason Tyner scored Morneau from third and a single off the glove of a diving Mike Lowell from Jason Bartlett delivered Kubel.

Tavarez retired 12 of the final 15 hitters he faced and allowed just two hits after the second inning, but dropped to 1-3.

“I thought he was outstanding,” said Francona. “He more than held his own tonight” against Santana.

“Facing a guy like Santana is always going to be tough,” said Tavarez. “We had some good at-bats against him, but he’s tough.”

Tavarez, who has also drawn Kevin Millwood, Roy Halladay (twice) and Chien-Ming Wang as opponents, said he doesn’t pay much attention to the other team’s starting pitcher.

“I have to leave it up to my teammates,” he said. “I trust they’re going to get me some runs.”

That trust might be misplaced. In the 25 innings that he’s been on the mound in his five starts, the Red Sox have scored just 11 runs.

“We just haven’t scored for him,” acknowledged Youkilis. “Some days, our offense will beat up on an ace and other times, their No. 5 guy is going to shut us down. I don’t think our offense is clicking yet, the way that it can.”

Indeed, through their first 29 games, the Sox have been held to one run or no runs six different times.

smcadam@projo.com