Twins rally past White Sox after giving up lead
MINNESOTA -- Miguel Sano and Eduardo Escobar each had three hits and helped the Twins rally late in an 8-6 win over the White Sox on Tuesday night at Target Field. The victory left the Twins one game back of the Rangers for the second American League Wild Card after Texas beat San Diego by the same 8-6 margin.
Sano crushed his 14th homer -- a solo shot off reliever Nate Jones -- to tie the game in the seventh before the Twins took the lead in the eighth, keyed by a leadoff double from Escobar against lefty Zach Duke. Escobar scored on an error from Duke, as his throw to first on a bunt attempt from Kurt Suzuki sailed wide. Joe Mauer provided an RBI single before Trevor Plouffe added a sacrifice fly to give the Twins two insurance runs.
"It was a really good bunt, but at the same time, I should be able to field my position," said Duke. "It's on me. I literally did nothing to help us win a game today, and it's borderline embarrassing."
White Sox ace Chris Sale was left with a no-decision as a result after allowing four runs on nine hits over 6 1/3 innings. He also struck out 10 and walked one. Sale is 1-3 with a 6.30 ERA in five starts against Minnesota this season.
Twins right-hander Tyler Duffey also didn't factor into the decision after going 4 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs on three hits and three walks. Reliever Kevin Jepsen picked up the win with a scoreless eighth, while closer Glen Perkins got his 32nd save despite giving up a run on a two-out RBI single from Tyler Saladino.
Video: CWS@MIN: Perkins retires Abreu to end White Sox rally
"The momentum changer for us was the home run," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "When you're trailing, if you can get back to even, it takes the pressure off because you're at your home park and you get the last at-bat. So that was huge for us, and then we put together a nice inning and took advantage of some misplays to score three runs."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Twins strike with four-run second: Sano started the rally with a single before Eddie Rosario, Escobar and Suzuki came through with consecutive singles to bring home two runs. Brian Dozier added a two-run double to give Minnesota an early 4-0 lead. More >
"They hit the ball hard and they score a lot of runs," said Sale of the Twins' magic against him. "I don't think I can pinpoint one thing. I made a couple of adjustments there after that inning to make things a little bit smoother and start pitching to locations instead of all over the place."
Video: CWS@MIN: Suzuki tacks on a run with a single to left
We have lift off: Avisail Garcia helped the White Sox come all the way back from a 4-0 deficit by launching a two-run blast off of Casey Fien in the sixth for a 5-4 White Sox advantage. Pet Statcast™, the ball had an exit speed of 106 mph with an angle of 30 degrees and traveled an estimated distance of 426 feet.
Video: CWS@MIN: Garcia's home run puts the White Sox on top
Duffey loses command: Duffey rolled through his first 4 2/3 innings before giving up a two-out single to Adam LaRoche. It snowballed from there, as he walked three straight batters, including Tyler Flowers with the bases loaded. Adam Eaton followed with a two-run single to knock Duffey from the game.
"I just kind of got away from things that were working," Duffey said. "I started slinging the ball and aiming the ball and the next thing you know I walk three straight hitters. It was kind of one of those things where I was cruising, but luckily the bullpen bailed me out and we scored some runs and got the win."
Video: CWS@MIN: Eaton singles home pair to cut into deficit
Captain of the K: Sale fanned 10 over 6 1/3 innings, marking the 13th time this season that he has reached double-digit strikeouts. That's the first time that's been done in the Major Leagues since Randy Johnson struck out 10 or more in 13 games in 2004. He needs 31 strikeouts to break the White Sox single-season record of 269 set by Ed Walsh in 1908 and 61 to reach 300. More >
Video: CWS@MIN: Sale mows down 10 to take Major-League lead
QUOTABLE
"Miguel is strong. For me, Miggy is the next Miguel Cabrera in this league. Sano is the next Miguel Sano in a couple years. He has a good approach at the plate and good discipline. He's like a veteran, not a rookie." -- Escobar, on Sano
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Sano became the fourth player in the last 10 seasons to hit at least 14 home runs through his first 50 career games, joining Jose Abreu, Ryan Braun and Evan Gattis. More >
Video: CWS@MIN: Sano slugs a solo shot to the second deck
• Of the 68 runs allowed by Sale this season, 24 have been against the Twins (35 percent). The 19 runs Sale has allowed at Target Field are the most by an opposing starter in a single season in Target Field history, passing John Danks' 17 in 2014.
REPLAY REVIEW
The Twins challenged a play successfully in the second, when Melky Cabrera hit a grounder up the middle that was fielded by Escobar, who spun and threw to first. Cabrera was ruled safe by first-base umpire Lance Barrett, but after a review, the call was overturned and he was out.
Video: CWS@MIN: Twins challenge base hit, call is overturned
With two outs and Gordon Beckham on first in the ninth, the White Sox challenged the call of a foul ball on an inside pitch to Eaton in the hopes that they would get a hit-by-pitch. The call on the field stood and the count stayed 0-2 on Eaton, who eventually got an infield single for his fourth hit.
Video: CWS@MIN: White Sox lose challenge for HBP call in 9th
WHAT'S NEXT
White Sox: Carlos Rodon makes start No. 20 and his 23rd appearance in the second of this three-game series, with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. CT at Target Field. Rodon has a 2-1 record with a 1.61 ERA over his last four starts, striking out 29 in 28 innings.
Twins: Lefty Tommy Milone is set to take the mound in the second game of the series on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. CT. Milone has not pitched deep into games recently, as he hasn't gone more than 5 1/3 innings since coming off the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 16.
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