White Sox rally from early deficit but fall to Twins, 10-5
CHICAGO — Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, who led the majors with a .335 average in 2019, picked up where he left off with two singles.
Third baseman Yoan Moncada also quickly carried over his successful 2019 with three hits, including a tying three-run home run.
Sox newcomers also got in the act, including rookie Luis Robert, who ripped a single to left in his first major league at-bat and doubled in the eighth.
The Sox have threats offensively. But if anyone needed a reminder, so do the Minnesota Twins.
Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, Jake Cave and Luis Arraez had two hits and two RBIs each, leading the Twins to a 10-5 victory over the Sox in the season opener Friday night at Guaranteed Rate Field.
It was a wild start to this pandemic-shortened season.
The Twins set a single-season major league record with 307 home runs last season on the way to winning the American League Central.
The power showed up again Friday.
Kepler hit two solo home runs off Sox starter Lucas Giolito. The right-hander had a rough outing, allowing seven runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings, striking out three and allowing three walks.
Kepler’s first home run came on the first pitch of the season. The Twins scored four in a first inning that included some shaky Sox defense. Kepler’s second homer came in the second, giving the Twins a 5-1 lead.
The Sox fought back with four runs in the bottom of the second. Eloy Jimenez singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Moncada tied the game with a three-run homer later in the inning. Moncada’s timing at the plate is remarkable, given that he missed the start of summer camp after testing positive for COVID-19. He returned to the team July 16.
The Twins loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth. Evan Marshall replaced Giolito and faced Polanco, who hit a bloop single to center that brought in two runs.
The Twins tacked on three more runs in the seventh to pull away. A Nelson Cruz grounder took a late hop over the head of second baseman Leury Garcia, and another grounder from Eddie Rosario got past Garcia’s outstretched glove.
Two of the runs in the inning were charged to Jimmy Cordero and one to Aaron Bummer.
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