White Sox 5, Twins 2
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Chicago White Sox battled the Minnesota Twins with the long ball and came away with a 5-2 win at Target Field on Friday night.
Just a week ago, the Twins hit 11 home runs in a four game series in Chicago, and they were looking to continue that trend with a first-inning home run. But the White Sox turned the tables, knocking two shots into the seats in the third inning for a lead they never relinquished.
White Sox starter Jose Quintana gave up the early home run to Joe Mauer and then scattered five more hits. He threw 114 pitches in 6-2/3 innings, giving up two runs, on six hits and two walks. Quintana struck out seven Twins batters.
Twins starter Kevin Correia had two rough early innings, but he settled down to pitch into the eighth inning. He threw 99 pitches in 7 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on nine hits and one walk with three strike outs.
Down 4-1 in the seventh, Wilkin Ramirez hit a triple to the base of the left-field wall, and then scored on Brian Dozier's hit up the middle. The Twins narrowed the deficit and ending Quintana's night.
But the White Sox scored an insurance run in the eighth on singles by Jeff Keppinger and Alexei Ramirez, a wild pitch and an error by third baseman Trevor Plouffe.
Addison Reed gave up a two-out hit to Mauer in the ninth, but retired Justin Morneau to pick up his 29th save.
NOTES: Connor Gillaspie left the game with a bruised left hand. He is listed as day-to-day. ... Before the game, the Twins activated Ryan Doumit from the seven-day concussion disabled list. To make room on the roster, the team optioned OF Chris Colabello to Triple A Rochester. ... Of Chicago's 120 games, 92 have been decided by three runs or less. The White Sox have played 45 one-run games this season -- the most in the major leagues. ... The White Sox are 18-42 (.300) on the road this season -- the lowest winning percentage in the major leagues. ... The Twins' nine wins in August are tied for third most in the American League for the month. They lead the majors in home runs (22) and walks (60) in August.
