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 They nearly matched that total during a three-game weekend series
against the Chicago White Sox, piling up 32 runs while winning two
of three.
Minnesota exploded for 12 runs in the final two innings Sunday and
finished with 23 hits in a 16-3 rout of Chicago.
"Well, we scored some runs here today," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire
said. "Goodness gracious, up to the eighth inning it was a 4-3
ballgame, then the ball starting flying all over the place."
For the series, the Twins piled up 49 hits, while White Sox
relievers gave up 22 runs in nine innings.
Twins center fielder Danny Santana led all hitters with four RBIs
and a career-high five hits. Right fielder Oswaldo Arcia went
3-for-6 with three RBIs, and catcher Eric Fryer added three hits and
two RBIs.
First baseman Chris Parmelee, Arcia and Fryer hit
back-to-back-to-back homers in the ninth, Minnesota's first set of
three consecutive home runs since July 12, 2001.
Twins starter Kyle Gibson (10-8) allowed three runs in the fourth
inning as Chicago took a 3-1 lead, but Minnesota stormed back.
Gibson didn't give up another run in his seven-inning outing, and
the Twins backed him with a three-run sixth and a nine-run eighth.
Minnesota (50-60) batted around in the eighth, sending 14 hitters to
the plate while scoring nine runs on nine hits against Chicago's
struggling bullpen.
"Everything seemed to land somewhere -- bloops and blops and some
homers, too," said Gardenhire, whose team lost two of three in
Kansas City before arriving at U.S. Cellular Field. "For us to come
back and end up with a .500 road trip, it's pretty decent. We put
some runs on the board in this series, which is going to be helpful
for us to get some confidence going."
On the flip side, the White Sox hope to bury the defeat quickly.
"A loss is a loss," Chicago catcher Tyler Flowers said. "It's never
fun to lose, first of all, and it's definitely never fun to get your
butt kicked. But baseball's a nice game. (Monday) it's a fresh
start."
Outfielder Dayan Viciedo launched his 13th homer of the season to
lead the White Sox (54-58).
Javy Guerra (1-3) and Taylor Thompson each allowed three runs in a
one-inning relief appearance. Ronald Belisario allowed four in
relief of Thompson in the eighth, without getting an out, and
left-hander Eric Surkamp mopped up that frame by allowing two runs
on four hits.
Anthony Rienzo served up the three homers in the ninth.
"It seemed OK until the sixth, and after that, it just got loose and
you couldn't stop it," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "This
is not quite as heartbreaking as when you lose a one-run game, when
they swing the bat like that, but the way you pitch and the way you
go through a game, you want it to be a lot better than that. You
just put it behind you and come back (Monday)."
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White Sox starter Jose Quintana didn't factor into the decision. He went
five innings, allowing one unearned run, but he was challenged by the
Twins and rain storms that caused two delays in the first two innings.
Following the first delay, which lasted 40 minutes and started nine
minutes after the game's first pitch, Quintana allowed a run by hitting
rookie designated hitter Kennys Vargas with the bases loaded to make it
1-0.
Quintana, who threw 116 pitches, left in line to even his record at 7-7.
Instead, Chicago's bullpen erased that possibility quickly.
The Twins scored three times in the sixth on four hits and then had the
monster eighth. Santana's two-run double keyed the fourth and he added
two more hits in the eighth.
"As a starting pitcher, that's a great feeling to know that you don't
have to be perfect," Gibson said. "Even if you give up two, three or
four runs, the offense is going to come pick you up."
NOTES: White Sox manager Robin Ventura gave struggling 1B/DH Adam Dunn a
day off Sunday in the series finale. Veteran 1B/DH Paul Konerko played
first and rookie 1B Jose Abreu was the designated hitter. 3B Conor
Gillaspie hit cleanup behind Abreu. "I like Jose just getting up as many
times as he can," Ventura said. "He's in a pretty good spot batting
third. I don't want to mess with him. Conor is not the normal looking
cleanup guy, but for this lineup today he's the right guy to put in
there." ... Twins manager Ron Gardenhire started RF Oswaldo Arcia
despite LHP Jose Quintana starting for Chicago, and Arcia finished
3-for-6. Arcia toted a .155 average against lefties into the game. ...
After the game Sunday, the White Sox optioned RHP Taylor Thompson to
Triple-A Charlotte. A corresponding roster move will be made prior to a
game Monday against the Texas Rangers ... White Sox RF Avisail Garcia
left his third rehab game with Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday after being
hit in the left arm during his second at-bat. He was diagnosed with a
bruised left triceps muscle. ... After the game Sunday, the Twins
claimed CF Jordan Schafer from the Atlanta Braves and optioned LHP Logan
Darnell to make room on the roster.
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