|
 Samardzija (5-4) allowed just two runs over seven strong innings as
the White Sox won 6-2 over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on
Tuesday.
For Samardzija, traded to Chicago over the winter from the Oakland
Athletics, it was his third consecutive outing of at least seven
innings and was his third straight quality start.
"I was just in the zone, stayed away from their power guys,"
Samardzija said. I just didn't want to pitch into any damage."
Unlike Monday's series opener, when the Twins were able to put
together a pair of big innings, Samardjiza deftly navigated
Minnesota's lineup. He gave up a solo homer in the first inning then
allowed one other run when three straight men to reached with two
outs in the fourth.
A fine defensive play by shortstop Alexei Ramirez on a cutoff throw
from left field limited the inning to one, and the White Sox offense
picked up their pitcher after that.
"I thought I was better out of the wind up," Samardzija said. "Early
on, if I'm not grooving out of the wind up I put myself in tougher
positions out of the stretch. I thought I got some quick outs. If
you can get that first out out of the way with nobody on, you can
settle down after that."
Chicago first baseman Jose Abreu had a career-high four hits and
scored two runs. Center fielder Adam Eaton had three hits and an
RBI, and catcher Geovany Soto added a pair of RBI singles.
Twins right-hander Mike Pelfrey (5-4) gave up three runs on 10 hits
and three walks in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out four.
"Coming in, I knew it was going to tough out there with how good
(Samardzija) is," Pelfrey said. "He out-pitched me. That's the story
right there, he was good."
Soto's second RBI single tied the score at 2-2 in the sixth inning
before the White Sox took control. An RBI single by left fielder
Melky Cabrera gave Chicago the lead for good in the seventh.
Eaton's double in the eighth increased the margin to 4-2. In the
ninth, a single by first baseman Adam LaRoche and a double by third
baseman Gordon Beckham, a late-inning defensive substitution, tacked
on runs.
"Good at-bats, the guys just kept grinding away," White Sox manager
Robin Ventura said. "Anytime you add on and keep getting those to
fall or squeak through, you wear out the other side."
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The Twins took the first-inning lead on a solo home run by left
fielder Eddie Rosario, who golfed a knee-high fastball over the wall
in right field for his fourth homer of the season.
"We saw that (with Samardzija) the last time we were in Chicago He
gave up some runs early and found a way to get through eight
innings," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "You get a lead off of
him and you're probably going to have to find a way to hold on
because he gets stronger as the game goes on."
Chicago evened the score in the fourth. A one-out double by third
baseman Conor Gillaspie set up Soto, who singled to right. Gillaspie
scored, but Soto was thrown out trying to advance to second.
In the bottom of the inning, Twins right fielder Torii Hunter was
hit by a pitch and shortstop Eduardo Nunez reached on an infield
single. A double down the left-field line by catcher Kurt Suzuki
drove in Hunter, but Nunez was gunned down at the plate on a cutoff
throw by Ramirez.
NOTES: White Sox RHP Matt Albers threw a simulated game on Tuesday
and is set to begin a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A
Charlotte on Friday. Albers has been on the 15-day disabled list on
April 25 and had surgery on his fractured pinkie finger on May 5.
... Twins OF Aaron Hicks took batting practice without issue before
the game on Tuesday. Hicks has been on the 15-day disabled list
since June 14 with a sore right elbow/forearm. ... The White Sox and
Twins will finish their three-game series with a contest Wednesday
afternoon at Target Field. Chicago will send LHP Chris Sale to the
bump (6-3, 2.74 ERA) against Minnesota RHP Phil Hughes (5-6, 4.47
ERA).
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