LDN - Sports

Twins take nightcap for split with White Sox

[August 22, 2017] By Jeff Arnold, The Sports Xchange

CHICAGO -- Dillon Gee isn't accustomed to starting for Minnesota. However, once the Twins' surging offense gave him plenty of support, the right-hander felt right at home.

Gee allowed two hits in six innings, and Jorge Polanco, Brian Dozier, Byron Buxton and Jason Castro homered as the Twins picked up a doubleheader split against the Chicago White Sox with a 10-2 win on Monday night.

In his first start since being acquired from the Texas Rangers earlier this season, Gee threw four perfect innings before allowing a solo home run and a sixth-inning double. Gee (1-0) yielded one run and no walks while striking out four in six innings.

He got more than enough offensive support, including the four homers.

The Twins scored six runs in the second inning to chase White Sox starter Carson Fulmer, who was called up from Triple-A Charlotte. Polanco hit a three-run homer before Dozier followed with another three-run blast to extend Minnesota's lead to 6-0.

"(The offense) putting up six (runs) helps, and I was just trying to be aggressive after that and fill up the zone and not walk guys and just make it quick," Gee said.

Gee was used as a spot starter, but manager Paul Molitor said Monday night that the right-hander could be in line for another start this weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays.

"It was efficient, it was effective, it was kind of a needed performance," Molitor said of Gee's outing. "To step in after he's been doing a really nice job as a long (relief) man and taking the ball for a start and giving us six innings is really more than I could have expected."

Gee was perfect through four innings before he gave up a solo home run to Nicky Delmonico to lead off the fifth. Gee needed just 42 pitches to move through the White Sox lineup before Delmonico's homer.

"I definitely felt in control," Gee said. "These guys give us a cushion like they did, it's fun."

Minnesota pushed the lead to 7-0 in the fourth when Ehire Adrianza walked, stole second, advanced to third on a Dozier single and scored when Eddie Rosario grounded into a double play.

Buxton homered in the fifth to give the Twins an eight-run advantage. Chris Gimenez had an RBI single in the eighth inning to cap the scoring for the Twins. Adam Engel led off the ninth with a solo home run for Chicago.

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Fulmer lasted just 1 1/3 innings and allowed six runs, four hits and three walks while surrendering two homers. Fulmer was sent back to Triple-A after the game along with reliever Brad Goldberg.

"I just thought they were on every pitch he was throwing," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said of Fulmer. "(It) didn't matter if it was fastball or breaking ball -- they were on time. They were in sync with fastballs and breaking balls."

The White Sox held on for a 7-6 victory in the first game of the doubleheader. Yolmer Sanchez and Jose Abreu homered, and Carlos Rodon struck out nine in 6 1/3 innings to pace Chicago.

Polanco got the Twins within a run in the eighth inning of the opener with a three-run homer.

The offense continued in the second game when the Twins rolled to their fourth win in five games.

"It was a nice bounce-back to a disappointing start to the series in the first game," Molitor said. "There were just a lot of guys contributing there (offensively), and the pitching made the big lead stand up."

NOTES: Twins RHP Tim Melville, called up from Triple-A Rochester to make the start in Game 1, took the loss. Melville (0-1) allowed five runs in 3 1/3 innings. ... Minnesota also promoted INF Kennys Vargas from Rochester. ... Twins 3B Miguel Sano was placed on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Sunday, with a stress fracture in his left shin. Manager Paul Molitor hopes Sano's stint on the disabled list will be limited to the 10 days. ... White Sox 2B Yoan Moncada returned to the lineup after missing two games with shin splints in his right leg. Moncada played in the first game of Monday's doubleheader but was not in the starting lineup for the second game. ... White Sox 3B Matt Davidson (bruised right wrist) will be re-evaluated Tuesday. If all goes well, Davidson -- who has been sidelined since Aug. 4 -- will be sent out on a minor league rehabilitation start.

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