|
 Sano's solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh
inning Tuesday tied the score and turned the tide of the game, one
the Twins went on to win 8-6 over the Chicago White Sox at Target
Field.
Minnesota scored four early runs then watched as starting pitcher
Tyler Duffey coughed up the lead in the middle innings. A two-run
homer by Chicago's Avisail Garcia gave the White Sox a 5-4 lead in
the sixth before Sano's 14th homer with two down and a full count
flipped the script.
"That was a momentum changer for us," Twins manager Paul Molitor
said. "We talk about him, he's usually in the middle of something
positive for us offensively."
The Twins capitalized on their new life -- and a pair of Chicago
errors -- in the eighth inning, scoring three runs to take an 8-5
lead, before handing the game to closer Glen Perkins. He allowed a
run in the ninth, but closed the door for his 32nd save and first
since Aug. 16.
"We found a way to win," Molitor said.
The blast by Sano made him just the fourth player in the last decade
to hit 14 homers in his first 50 games in the Majors. He has now hit
seven home runs over his last 13 games and has reached base safely
in 16 consecutive contests overall.
Eduardo Escobar, a former Sox infielder, had three hits for
Minnesota, including a leadoff double to kick start the
eighth-inning rally. Catcher Kurt Suzuki sacrificed Escobar to
third, but pitcher Zach Duke's throw to first eluded Jose Abreu,
allowing him to score.
"I feel good now," said Escobar, who has now reached safely in seven
straight and has five doubles and three homers over that span. "I'm
playing every day, working hard; my bat is good, my swing is good."
Twins center fielder Byron Buxton grounded sharply to Tyler Saladino
but the third baseman couldn't handle it, forcing the Sox to
intentionally walk second baseman Brian Dozier to load the bases.
First baseman Joe Mauer followed with a sharp RBI single to right
center and third baseman Trevor Plouffe's sacrifice fly to shallow
center was deep enough for Buxton to scamper home standing up.
Kevin Jepsen got the win, throwing a spotless eight-pitch eighth
inning ahead of the late offensive surge. It was Jepsen's first win
since being acquired by the Twins from Tampa Bay on July 31.
"Defensively at the end, I think that's what (we're) disappointed
about," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "(We) didn't get it
done that way. They've been battling and they've been tough on us
all year, but the execution there at the end just didn't get it
done."
The Twins posted a four-run inning off Chris Sale in the second,
taking advantage of four singles, the last two by Escobar and
Suzuki, to make it 2-0.
Two batters later, Dozier doubled into the left-center field gap,
driving in both Escobar and Suzuki and giving the Twins a 4-0 lead.
Sale settled down after that and left after 6 1/3 innings in line
for the win. He allowed four runs on nine hits and a walk, striking
out 10. It was the 13th time this season Sale reached double-digit
strikeouts, the most since Randy Johnson did it in 2004.
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"That early on in the game, you don't want to get too down on
yourself," Sale said. "You still have a lot of ballgame left. And we
came back and fought. You just want to be able to give your team a
chance and not let it snowball and make things worse."
The early support looked like it would be more than enough for
Minnesota right-hander Tyler Duffey, who cruised through the first
four frames and got two quick outs in the fifth before running into
trouble.
First, Dozier couldn't get a good handle on a ground ball deep into
the hole between second and first. Duffey then issued three
consecutive walks to the 7-8-9 batters, plating one runner.
White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton followed two-run single to
right, pulling Chicago to within a run at 4-3.
The base hit was the end of the line for Duffey, who retired the
first 11 batters on just 42 pitches, but threw just six of his final
19 pitches for strikes; two of those going for hits.
"I started to get away from things I've been working on," Duffey
said. "Started slinging the ball, I started aiming the ball and the
next thing you know, I've walked three-in-a-row. Luckily the bullpen
could bail me out and we put up some runs late."
Duffey allowed three runs on three hits and three walks, fanning
two.
NOTES: As part of September roster expansions, the White Sox
recalled RHP Erik Johnson, C Rob Brantly and INF Leury Garcia from
Triple-A Charlotte and RHP Frankie Montas from Double-A Birmingham.
The club said it could also recall more players later this month as
minor league seasons conclude. ... The Twins recalled INF Danny
Santana, 1B Kenny Vargas, RHP A.J. Achter and RHP Michael Tonkin
from Triple-A Rochester. All four have spent time with the Twins at
various points this season. ... The Twins also purchased the
contract of C Eric Fryer. To make room for Fryer on the 40-man
roster, the Twins outrighted LHP Jason Wheeler to Double-A
Chattanooga. ... The White Sox and Twins will continue with the
second of their three-game series on Wednesday at Target Field.
Chicago left-hander Carlos Rodon (6-5, 4.15 ERA) will oppose
Minnesota lefty Tommy Milone (6-4, 3.86 ERA).
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