CHICAGO – With the Twins in dire need of a spark, rookie Kaelen Culpepper provided it.
Making his first career start in the No. 2 spot in the batting order, Culpepper singled, beat out a potential double play ball and doubled, scoring twice as Minnesota scratched out a badly needed win, 6-4 against the White Sox at Rate Field on Saturday night.
Ryan Jeffers’ three-run homer was the big blow, but Culpepper played a part in every inning in which the Twins scored. His fourth-inning single was the team’s first hit, and his RBI double in the seventh provided vital breathing room after the game had tightened up.
Culpepper, 23 years old and playing in his 24th Major League game, had never batted higher than sixth prior to Saturday. But with lefty Anthony Kay on the mound for Chicago and Culpepper hitting well lately, manager Derek Shelton bumped him up to the two spot for Saturday’s game.
It worked beautifully.
Taj Bradley endured a rocky first inning, allowing three runs, before settling in to keep the Twins within striking distance of the White Sox. But when the fourth inning started, it looked like that might not matter, because Minnesota’s only baserunner had come via an error.
Culpepper led off the fourth with a single, though, giving the Twins a spark. Josh Bell doubled, and both came home as the Twins cut the deficit to 3-2.
An inning later with two on and no out, Culpepper hit a grounder to the right side that could’ve been a double play. But after Miguel Vargas tagged lead runner Ryan Kreidler, Culpepper beat out the throw. Jeffers followed with the homer that put the Twins ahead for good.
And Culpepper wasn’t done. With the lead down to 5-4 in the seventh, Luke Keaschall hit a leadoff single. Culpepper laced a double down the right-field line, stretching the margin back to two runs.