Tuesday, August 22, 2017 08:10 PM
(ET)
Twins use three homers to down White Sox
The Sports Xchange
Aug 22, 2017
CHICAGO -- The Minnesota Twins shrugged off an early deficit and hit three homers on the way to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
Jorge Polanco, Kennys Vargas and Eddie Rosario each homered against White Sox rookie right-hander Lucas Giolito, called up Tuesday from Triple-A Charlotte for his Chicago debut.
The White Sox pushed across a first-inning run but came up empty on two early bases-loaded scoring opportunities and were shut out the rest of the way.
Twins starter Kyle Gibson (7-10) allowed one run on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked just one for his first victory since beating the Detroit Tigers on July 22.
Giolito (0-1) worked six innings, allowing four runs on six hits. He struck out three and walked none while throwing 99 pitches.
The victory was the second straight and sixth in seven games for the Twins (65-60), who are 13-4 in their past 17 games.
Chicago (48-76) dropped its second straight and is 3-8 over its last 11 games.
Twins relievers Trevor Hildenberger and Matt Belisle worked scoreless eighth and ninth innings. Belisle gave up a hit but earned his fourth save.
Rosario clubbed his 18th homer of the season with one out in the sixth. His two-run shot to left scored Joe Mauer and gave Minnesota a 4-1 lead.
The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as rookie Yoan Moncada doubled to right with one out, reached third on Jose Abreu's line out and scored on Gibson's wild pitch with Nicky Delmonico at bat.
Chicago loaded the bases with one out in the second, but Adam Engel struck out swinging and Leury Garcia grounded to second.
Moncada was perched at third with no outs in the third as the White Sox loaded the bases again before Gibson struck Avisail Garcia, Yolmer Sanchez and Tim Anderson to escape the threat.
The Twins evened matters in the fourth on Polanco's leadoff home run to center, his sixth of the season.
In the fifth inning, Vargas belted an 0-2 pitch from Giolito for his ninth home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center that gave the Twins a 2-1 lead.
NOTES: Twins manager Paul Molitor, who celebrated his 61st birthday on Tuesday, appeared in 18 games on that date during his playing career, batting .264. ... Minnesota 2B Brian Dozier has eight doubles, 11 home runs, 20 RBIs and 19 runs in his past 24 games against Chicago. ... The Twins send RHP Ervin Santana (13-7, 3.33 ERA) against White Sox RHP James Shields (2-4, 5.72 ERA) on Wednesday. ... The White Sox recalled RHP Lucas Giolito from Triple-A Charlotte for the Tuesday start. The No. 6 prospect in the organization, Giolito was acquired last December from the Nationals and was 6-10 with a 4.48 ERA in 24 Charlotte starts. ... The rare five-game series (which included a makeup game as part of the Monday doubleheader) concludes on Thursday.
Aug 22, 2017
CHICAGO -- The Minnesota Twins shrugged off an early deficit and hit three homers on the way to a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
Jorge Polanco, Kennys Vargas and Eddie Rosario each homered against White Sox rookie right-hander Lucas Giolito, called up Tuesday from Triple-A Charlotte for his Chicago debut.
The White Sox pushed across a first-inning run but came up empty on two early bases-loaded scoring opportunities and were shut out the rest of the way.
Twins starter Kyle Gibson (7-10) allowed one run on seven hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked just one for his first victory since beating the Detroit Tigers on July 22.
Giolito (0-1) worked six innings, allowing four runs on six hits. He struck out three and walked none while throwing 99 pitches.
The victory was the second straight and sixth in seven games for the Twins (65-60), who are 13-4 in their past 17 games.
Chicago (48-76) dropped its second straight and is 3-8 over its last 11 games.
Twins relievers Trevor Hildenberger and Matt Belisle worked scoreless eighth and ninth innings. Belisle gave up a hit but earned his fourth save.
Rosario clubbed his 18th homer of the season with one out in the sixth. His two-run shot to left scored Joe Mauer and gave Minnesota a 4-1 lead.
The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as rookie Yoan Moncada doubled to right with one out, reached third on Jose Abreu's line out and scored on Gibson's wild pitch with Nicky Delmonico at bat.
Chicago loaded the bases with one out in the second, but Adam Engel struck out swinging and Leury Garcia grounded to second.
Moncada was perched at third with no outs in the third as the White Sox loaded the bases again before Gibson struck Avisail Garcia, Yolmer Sanchez and Tim Anderson to escape the threat.
The Twins evened matters in the fourth on Polanco's leadoff home run to center, his sixth of the season.
In the fifth inning, Vargas belted an 0-2 pitch from Giolito for his ninth home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center that gave the Twins a 2-1 lead.
NOTES: Twins manager Paul Molitor, who celebrated his 61st birthday on Tuesday, appeared in 18 games on that date during his playing career, batting .264. ... Minnesota 2B Brian Dozier has eight doubles, 11 home runs, 20 RBIs and 19 runs in his past 24 games against Chicago. ... The Twins send RHP Ervin Santana (13-7, 3.33 ERA) against White Sox RHP James Shields (2-4, 5.72 ERA) on Wednesday. ... The White Sox recalled RHP Lucas Giolito from Triple-A Charlotte for the Tuesday start. The No. 6 prospect in the organization, Giolito was acquired last December from the Nationals and was 6-10 with a 4.48 ERA in 24 Charlotte starts. ... The rare five-game series (which included a makeup game as part of the Monday doubleheader) concludes on Thursday.
