Twins 11, White Sox 4: Lazy offense only hits three HRs

I hope the Twins’ hitters aren’t afraid of needles, because there’s probably a small army of blood-testers gonna be sticking ‘em at this pace.

Jose Berrios allowed Chicago to rattle him a little bit early on. A leadoff throwing error from team-leader Jorge Polanco in the second would eventually result in four White Sox runs, only one earned. 4-1, Pale Hose.

Then, ring-ring. Offense coming. Miguel Sano started it with a walk (!), Jonathan Schoop got HBP, and a Byron Buxton double made it 4-3. Next inning? Jackers from Eddie Rosario and Sano, 5-4. The Twins never trailed again. Max Kepler eventually poured on a boomstick of his own.

Chicago threatened to tie things up in the fourth, with runners on first and third, one out. Jose Abreu, who is not a fast runner, grounded into a 3-4-3, ending that threat.

The “book,” as it were, on Chicago starter Reynaldo Lopez was that he throws hard but gives up too many big flies and walks. The book (OK, Fangraphs and BRef) was correct. 3.1 IP, three homers, two walks, and that HBP. Berrios left in the seventh for Trevor May. Today’s callup Zach Littell pitched the rest and was fine.

With Sano’s dong, the Twins became one of two teams — like, evah — to hit 100 taters or more in their first 50 games. The other one? Seattle, in 1999. A team that had A-Rod and Griffey Jr. (They didn’t make the playoffs that year.) Also, per LENIII:

Incidentally, Do-Young Park reports that Nelson Cruz should come back soon, Mitch Garver soon after. Robot Roll Call:

Comments of the thread go to Joel Hernandez for “This game is interrupting my experience of watching ads” and blackmankitteh with “more doubles than homers tonight. Fire someone.”

Tomorrow’s game is at 1:10. Thanks for everyone who joined in tonight!