Dozier's 2 HRs power Twins past White Sox
CHICAGO -- A four-run fourth inning was more than enough support for starter Kyle Gibson, as the Twins defeated the White Sox on Sunday, 8-1. Gibson worked eight innings and struck out eight -- tying a career high -- without a walk to cruise to the win.
Second baseman Brian Dozier hit two home runs and drove in four runs to pace the Twins, and right fielder Eddie Rosario added two hits and two RBIs.
"He kinda started it and then finished it off today," Twins manager Paul Molitor said of Dozier. "He got the first one and then the last three. And in between we had a really nice inning."
Video: MIN@CWS: Gibson stymies White Sox over eight innings
The Twins chased Chicago starter Jose Quintana after six-plus innings. The left-hander gave up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and struck out five. The White Sox once again struggled to provide offensive support, totaling just four hits, including Jose Abreu's home run. Chicago is 2-5 in its last seven games, scoring 2.14 runs per game in that span.
"They swung the bats, coming out," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of the Twins. "You give up that much and it's tough to come back, especially with the way we've been swinging it."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Dozier blasts two homers: Dozier got the Twins on the board in a hurry with a leadoff homer off Quintana to open the game. It was his ninth career leadoff homer and his second this season. He put the game away with a three-run shot to left in the seventh off reliever Scott Carroll on an 0-2 fastball. It was the second career multi-homer game for Dozier.
"It's a lot of fun," Dozier said. "I got a good pitch to hit with a fastball over the middle. The ball was flying today and I hit a couple up in the air."
Video: MIN@CWS: Twins discuss win vs. White Sox
Eaton error: With a runner on second in the fourth inning, White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton came charging in on a line drive but couldn't make the catch. The ball clipped the bottom of Eaton's glove and rolled to the center-field wall, allowing one run to score, for his third error of the season.
"I won't be lying to you if I say my eyes were wandering a little bit," Eaton said. "I've made that play 100 times and whatever happened to that ball, it didn't find my mitt. I need to make the play and I didn't do that."
Video: MIN@CWS: Twins plate second run on Eaton's error
Four-run fourth propels Twins: The Twins caught a break with Eaton's error that led to a run before catching another one on an RBI infield single from Torii Hunter that could've been a double play but went off Quintana's glove. After Chris Herrmann walked to load the bases, Rosario came through with a two-run single up the middle to give Minnesota a 5-0 lead.
"A lot of guys contributed that inning, which is not untypical of our offense," Molitor said. "Spreading out the wealth."
Video: MIN@CWS: Rosario plates two runs with an RBI single
Abreu finds power: Abreu hadn't hit a home run since May 9, but he ended that drought with a blast in the fourth inning. Despite having a 17-game hitting streak snapped Saturday, Abreu has hit just two home runs the month of May.
Video: MIN@CWS: Abreu hits opposite-field solo jack
QUOTABLE
"We are not just getting beat, we are beating ourselves and making good pitchers look great. It's embarrassing." -- White Sox first baseman Adam LaRoche, after the White Sox lost their second straight series More >
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• After a four-run fourth inning on Sunday, Chicago has allowed four or more runs in an inning 11 times this season. Five of those are courtesy of the Twins.
• The Twins are 15-6 in May, which is the best record in the American League. The 15 wins in a month are the most for the Twins since they went 16-13 in July, 2011. More >
WHAT'S NEXT
Twins: The Twins head home to open a three-game series against the Red Sox on Monday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. CT. Right-hander Ricky Nolasco makes the start, and is 4-0 with a 4.29 ERA since missing nearly a month with right elbow inflammation.
White Sox: The White Sox start an 11-game road stretch Monday in Toronto at Rogers Centre at 6:07 p.m. CT. Right-hander Hector Noesi gets the start for the first time since May 2, carrying a 5.60 ERA this season.
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