Today’s lineups:
MIN: Max Kepler RF, Mitch Garver C, Luis Arraez 2B, Miguel Sano 1B, Eddie Rosario DH, Josh Donaldson 3B, Jorge Polanco SS, Jake Cave LF, Byron Buxton CF, Lewis Thorpe P
CHI: Yoan Moncado 3B, Tim Anderson SS, Eloy Jimenez LF, Luis Robert CF, Edwin Encarnacion 1B, James McCann C, Zack Collins DH, Nomar Mazara RF, Leury Garcia 2B, Michael Kopech P
Lewis Thorpe was tagged for six runs, and couldn’t escape the third inning. Chicago’s offense overpowered the Twins’ rookie, lead by McCann. Chicago’s Michael Kopech didn’t have a great day on the mound either, as the Twins scored four times in four innings against him, but they just couldn’t keep pace overall.
Both starters gave up a homer to the first batter they faced. For Thorpe, that was Yoan Moncado, who lined the first pitch he saw into left field. Max Kepler was a little a more patient—he took a two called strikes sandwiching a ball before he saw one he liked and hit it the left field stands.
In the second inning, Thorpe gave up a couple big hits, The first was a double by noted Twins-Killer Edwin Encarnacion to lead off. The second was a two-run home run James McCann. When it dropped 394 feet later, Chicago had a two-run lead. They would add another before the end of the inning, on two singles, a wild pitch, and a groundout.
By the end of the third inning, Chicago put the game out of reach. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Nomar Mazara with one out. The left-handed outfielder pulled a ball past Arraez for a two-run single and a 6-1 Sox lead. Lewis Thorpe hit the showers and Zack Littell came on.
In the fourth, the Twins mounted a bit of a comebacks. Eddie Rosario started it by leading off with a solo home run, his tenth of the season. Jorge Polanco wore a 2-2 pitch to get on first, and came home on Jake Cave’s double. Another double saw Max Kepler and Cave switch places, and the Twins close the gap to 6-4 by putting a crooked number on the board.
The Twins bullpen let a few more runners cross though. Sergio Romo, after a clean sixth, gave up two singles in the seventh, and turned things over to Tyler Clippard with runners on the corners and one out. Clippard did not allow a hit, but a run scored on a sac fly. Minnesota brought the gap back to two in their half of the inning. Mitch Garver and Luis Arraez both singled, and Miguel Sano moved them to the second and third station on a grounder. Eddie Rosario hit a single to centerfield, scoring Garver. Arraez attempted to score as well, but was gunned down at the plate to end the inning.
Clippard gave up a double in the eighth, and gave the ball to Tyler Duffey with two outs and a man on third. Duffey allowed the inherited runner to score on a double by Luis Robert, and allowed a run of his own when James McCann collected his third RBI of the day, driving Robert in on a single.
Notes
- Second game in a row with a homer for both Kepler and Rosario
- Luis Arraez hit a triple in the third inning.
- Final line for McCann: 3-4, 1 run scored, 3 RBI, BB, K, HR. He’s also somehow hitting .361 right now.
STUDS:
Max Kepler: 2-4, HR, double, 2 RBI
Eddie Rosario: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI
DUDS:
Lewis Thorpe: 2.2 IP, 6 runs, 8 hits, 2 HR
Miguel Sano: 0-4, K, 6 LOB
Byron Buxton: 0-4, K, 2 LOB
Tomorrow: White Sox again. First pitch at 7:10 pm (look for a recap around 11 pm)