The Chicago White Sox topped the Minnesota Twins 4-3 Monday afternoon at Target Field in Minneapolis. Minnesota was just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, including leaving the tying run at third base in the eighth inning.
The Twins were not full strength as Byron Buxton didn’t start due to a rest day and Carlo Correa missed a second straight game because of back spasms. Buxton did pinch hit in the eighth inning but he struck out swinging.
Joey Gallo (right side soreness) and Max Kepler (injured list) also missed the game.
Kenta Maeda was cruising through three innings in his second start before the White Sox jumped him for four runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by Hanser Alberto’s 3-run homer.
Maeda wound up finishing six innings on just 83 pitches. On the other side, the Twins handled reigning AL Cy Young runner-up Dylan Cease pretty well, getting three runs against him (only one earned) before he was pulled after throwing 98 pitches in five innings.
After Chicago’s big fourth inning, the Twins responded with runs in the fourth and fifth to cut the deficit to 4-3. They got Willi Castro to third base in the eighth inning but he was stranded and the Twins went down 1-2-3 in the ninth.
Note: Bally Sports North play-by-play announcer Dick Bremer missed a fourth straight game as he battles COVID-19.
Up next: Twins vs. White Sox, Tuesday at 6:40 p.m.
