Kepler, Twins outlast White Sox in 13 innings

[June 29, 2018]  Max Kepler had two hits and drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded walk in the 13th inning as the Minnesota Twins edged the Chicago White Sox, 2-1, on Thursday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago.

Logan Morrison, who homered earlier, scored the winning run after doubling off Hector Santiago (2-3) with two outs in the 13th. Shortstop Ehire Adrianza was intentionally walked and center fielder Jake Cave also walked to load the bases. Kepler then drove in the game-winning run when Santiago's 3-2 pitch was high.

Alan Busenitz (2-0), the Twins' seventh pitcher in the game, picked up the win with 1 2/3 innings of two-hit relief as Minnesota won for just the second time in seven games, snapping Chicago's season-best-tying three-game win streak in the process.

Jake Odorizzi, who threw a season-high 112 pitches, tossed six shutout innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out eight, but failed to garner a victory in his ninth straight start dating back to a 7-1 win at St. Louis on May 8.

Lucas Giolito, who entered the game with a 7.01 ERA, didn't allow a hit over the first 5 1/3 innings before Eddie Rosario lined a double off the tip of first baseman Jose Abreu's glove down the right field line. But Giolito -- who walked the bases loaded in the first inning and went 3-0 to Adrianza before rebounding to get the Twins shortstop to pop out to end that threat -- bounced back afer Rosario's double to get both Eduardo Escobar and Brian Dozier on routine flyouts.

Morrison finally broke the scoreless tie leading off the seventh with his ninth homer of the season, crushing a 3-2 fastball 440 feet to the top of the right field bleachers with an exit velocity of 109.4 miles per hour.

White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Young-USA TODAY Sports

The Twins then loaded the bases with singles by Cave and Kepler and a walk to catcher Bobby Wilson to chase Giolito, but reliever Luis Avilan got Robbie Grossman to line into an unassisted double play as second baseman Yoan Moncada doubled off Kepler at second base.

Fernando Rodney started the ninth with a strikeout of Matt Davidson and a groundout by catcher Kevan Smith and seemed in good shape for his 18th save of the season.

But after third baseman Yolmer Sanchez blooped a single to left, Rodney struggled with his control, hitting shortstop Tim Anderson with a pitch and then walking left fielder Charlie Tilson and pinch hitter Daniel Palka, the latter of which forced across the tying run. Rodney finally ended the 35-pitch inning with a strikeout of Moncada.

--Field Level Media

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