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Twins take advantage of White Sox blunders in 8-1 victory

Chicago makes plenty of mistakes as Minnesota takes series.

September 3, 2020 at 3:36PM
Twins broadcaster Bery Blyleven acknowledged the players on the field who tipped their caps to him at the end of the national anthem on the night of last night working a game.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was among those who tipped their caps to broadcaster Bert Blyleven at the end of the national anthem.
Twins broadcaster Bery Blyleven acknowledged the players on the field who tipped their caps to him at the end of the national anthem on the night of last night working a game.
Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson (7) tried to elude the tag of Minnesota Twins first baseman Miguel Sano (22) in the first inning.
Minnesota Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson (24) singled in his first at bat of the night.
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) throwing to the White Sox in the first inning.
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (40) throwing to the Twins in the first inning.
Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson (7) threw to first after forcing Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco (11) out at second to complete a first inning double play.
Minnesota Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson (24) threw his bat on a swing in the second inning. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson (24) pointed to the dugout after his 2 RBI double in the second inning, ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Chicago manager Rick Renteria signaled for a reliever to come out and replace Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (40) in the second inning. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) grounded out to Chicago White Sox reliever Ross Detwiler (54) in the second inning. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins second baseman Luis Arraez (2) misplayed a grounder by Chicago White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal (1) in the third inning. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins second baseman Luis Arraez (2) leapt to throw over Chicago White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal (1) after forcing him out at second in the third inning. He was unable to complete the double play ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) throwing against the White Sox in the third inning. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) throwing the third strike to Chicago White Sox left fielder Eloy Jimenez (74) in the third inning. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Jose Berrios (17) reacted after throwing the third strike to Chicago White Sox left fielder Eloy Jimenez (74) last week.
Minnesota Twins first baseman Miguel Sano (22) knocked a third inning pitch by Chicago White Sox reliever Ross Detwiler (54) 405 feet into left field for a home run. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins first baseman Miguel Sano (22) circled the bases after knocked a third inning pitch by Chicago White Sox reliever Ross Detwiler (54) for a home run. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins first baseman Miguel Sano (22) celebrated his third inning solo homer with third base coach Tony Diaz. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco (11) threw out Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert (88) after fielding his fourth inning grounder. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario (20) celebrated his two run homer in the sixth inning, which scored Nelson Cruz and gave the Twins an 8-1 lead. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario (20) celebrated his two run homer in the sixth inning with teammate Miguel Sano (22), after his and Nelson Cruz's runs gave the Twins an 8-1 lead. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Chicago White Sox left fielder Eloy Jimenez (74) earned an error after he misplayed a hit by Minnesota Twins second baseman Luis Arraez (2). ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jorge Alcala (66) celebrated getting out of the 8th inning allowing just one hit and no runs. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Devin Smeltzer (31) threw in the ninth inning. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins defeated the Chicago White Sox 8-1 in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario (20), second baseman Ehire Adrianza (13), center fielder Jake Cave (60), and right fielder Marwin Gonzalez (9) gathered for a group hug after the win. ] JEFF WHEELER • jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The Minnesota Twins defeated the Chicago White Sox 8-1 in an MLB baseball game Wednesday night, September 2, 2020 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
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Twins broadcaster Bery Blyleven acknowledged the players on the field who tipped their caps to him at the end of the national anthem on the night of last night working a game. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

One play on Wednesday exemplified the ebb and flow of the Twins season during what should have been an enjoyable 8-1 victory over the White Sox.

Josh Donaldson stepped to the plate with runners on first and second and laced a double to the right center field gap.

Ryan Jeffers scored from second. Max Kepler, who was on first, wasn't far behind. But Kepler pulled up at the end of his dash and limped into the dugout with a tight left groin.

During a series in which the Twins welcomed back Donaldson and Byron Buxton from injury and Michael Pineda from the suspended list this week - getting as healthy as they have been in weeks - they now have to fret about Kepler's immediate availability.

To make matters worse, Luis Arraez, while reaching first on an error in the sixth inning, pulled up once he got to first base and immediately took himself out of the game. He's been battling tendinitis in his knee.

"This is baseball," said righthander Jose Berrios, who improved to 3-3 thanks to nasty stuff. "We can't control that. Obviously, we feel disappointed, but that's the group we have. Obviously, Kepler and Arraez left the game with injury, but hopefully, they'll get better quickly, and like I said, we have to work with the group we have. We can't think about the bad things. Just try to stay in control and go out there and do our thing."

A lot of things went right for the Twins on Wednesday. Their eight runs were the most they've scored in a game since Aug. 12, a span of 17 games between outbursts. It also was the last time they hit at least three home runs in a game.

Berrios wasn't perfect, but he was better, holding the White Sox to one run over six innings on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.

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For one night, they resembled the BombaSquad.

But now they have to fret about potential losses of Kepler and Arraez.

"We have other guys that we're going to look to when the time comes but with Kep and with Louie, we're going to wait and see before we make any kind of statements or decide anything," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "We don't know enough right now before we know what we're going to do next."

After committing three errors on Monday, the White Sox committed four on Wednesday. This time, the Twins took advantage.

Before Donaldon's double, Jake Cave hit a solo homer off Chicago righthander Reynaldo Lopez, the second homer off him this season. The key to the inning might have been Arraez wearing down Lopez with a 10-pitch at-bat before flying out for the second out. The next four Twins reached base.

" We had opportunities early, great at-bats but weren't able to capitalize," Baldelli said. "And then Luis going out and having that type of at-bat that he's kind of known for, that's the kind of thing that Luis Arraez brings to the table, and also the kind of thing that you look at it and don't exactly know how it's going to factor in, you don't know how much meaning it's going to have, but I'll tell you this, those types of at-bats do change the game."

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Chicago scored in the third, an inning in which Arraez and Miguel Sano each made defensive mistakes. Sano homered in the third. The Twins added two in the fifth to go up 6-1, one on a throwing error by Tim Anderson that allowed Sano to escape a rundown and score. Eddie Rosario added a two-run homer in the sixth.

"Did we push the runs across early on with all the baserunners and all that?" Baldelli said. "We weren't, but we were able to continue to build upon. We were able to continue to build off all the great at-bats our guys had, all the hard-hit balls and get to a point where we were finally able to push them across."

Twins first baseman Miguel Sano celebrated his third inning home run with third base coach Tony Diaz.
Twins first baseman Miguel Sano celebrated his third inning home run with third base coach Tony Diaz. (Brian Stensaas — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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about the writer

La Velle E. Neal III

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La Velle E. Neal III is a sports columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune who previously covered the Twins for more than 20 years.

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