Gibson, Dozier lead Twins over White Sox, 8-1

Pundits all around baseball simultaneously talk about the Twins' impressive start and then gleefully discuss how it's a level of success that can't possibly continue. Maybe they're right. But you know what? I don't care.

Once again this afternoon, Minnesota found another way to win. Brian Dozier's solo home run to lead off the game was a sign of good things to come, and it didn't stop there. Sunday afternoon was all Twins, no White Sox, and it was a fitting end to a series that turned by ruining the number retirement ceremony for one of Chicago's greatest players ever yesterday.

The game broke open on the fourth. Shane Robinson's first-pitch double into the right-field corner challenged the arm of Avisail Garcia, but Robinson came out on top. Joe Mauer hit the ball on the screws but right to Adam Eaton, who couldn't track a ball that was - admittedly - knuckling through the air, for a two-base error. Trevor Plouffe and Torii Hunter singled. Eduardo Escobar lofted a ball into the right field corner that Garcia caught, but both Plouffe and Hunter tagged up to move into scoring position. Hunter's move was particularly shrewd. Chris Herrmann worked a walk and then Eddie Rosario topped off the scoring with a two-run single right up the middle.

Mistakes. The occasional hard-hit ball. Heads-up base running. Unlikely heroes coming through in big spots. That's how the Twins have been winning this year, and the fourth inning was a perfect illustration of that.

Dozier's three-run blast in the seventh was insult to Chicago's injury, but other than Minnesota's second baseman the star of the game was Kyle Gibson. Gibson's swinging strike rate hasn't been consistent at all this year, but today's performance was outstanding. He struck out eight in eight innings without giving up a walk, and all of his pitches were working.

Minnesota is now 25-18 and, thanks to Houston's victory over Detroit, now in a tie for second place in the AL Central with the Tigers. Chalk up yet another series win for the Twins, folks.

ROLL CALL!

COMMENT OF THE GAMETHREAD

kenzertz: "You jinxed it with your stupid comment."

STUDS

DUDS

NO DUDS TWINS WIN