Twins 8, White Sox 4: Hector Santiago shelled
The Twins roughed up Hector Santiago for three runs in the first inning, but the White Sox had a chance to respond against the scuffling Lance Lynn.
Yolmer Sanchez lined a double to right to start a string of four consecutive hits, with a Welington Castillo opposite-field single loading the bases for Daniel Palka. Lynn fell behind 3-1, so Palka forced Lynn to come into the zone. Lynn obliged with a two-seamer over the outer half, and … got a 6-3 double play out of it to end the inning.
The Sox needed that opportunity, because Santiago fell apart in his second start. He issued six walks on top of six hits over 3โ innings, the second consecutive night a White Sox starter failed to make it out of the fourth.
Eddie Rosario in particular kicked him around. He delivered an RBI single in the first, a two-run homer in the third, and then drove home Santiago’s last two walks with a double against Chris Volstad. The Twins left fielder finished 4-for-5 with five RBIs.
The White Sox offense had moments, but both of its best chances for crooked numbers ended with double plays. Leury Garcia came to the plate with runners on the corners and nobody out in the fifth, but went 6-4-3 to trade two outs for a run while clearing the bases.
Lynn ended up picking up his first victory of the year, in part because he didn’t walk anybody. He gave up eight hits over six innings, but seven strikeouts helped mitigate the damage. Twins relievers didn’t walk anybody, either, while White Sox pitching issued eight of them.
At least the Sox were able to get some fine individual performances out of it. Tim Anderson went 3-for-4 with two homers and a double out of the eighth spot to snap out of a slump. Jace Fry also pitched his second scoreless outing in as many nights. This time he threw two perfect innings, stranding a Volstad runner in the process.
Bullet points:
*Nicky Delmonico earned an outfield assist after an unsuccessful dive to catch Ehire Adrianza’s drive to left. It went 9-6-2-5, with Castillo cutting down Adrianza as he tried to take third on the relay home..
*Jose Rondon made his White Sox debut, pinch-hitting for Trayce Thompson after Thompson struck out in all three trips to the plate. He lined out to third after a 12-pitch battle.
*The Sox played errorless defense, and Garcia made a couple of ranging plays left and right in his first night filling in for Yoan Moncada, who went on the 10-day disabled list.
Record: 9-22 | Box score