The Chicago White Sox solidified their grip on the AL Central on Sunday with a commanding 10-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Randal Grichuk and Kyle Teel each delivered home runs during a decisive five-run eighth inning, while Chicago’s relief corps held Minnesota to just four hits. The win preserved the White Sox’s 2 1/2-game cushion over Cleveland in the division standings.
Sam Antonacci sparked the offense with three doubles and two RBIs, anchoring a balanced attack. For the Twins, Brooks Lee contributed a solo homer and a single, but the club suffered its third defeat in four outings.
Chicago seizes momentum versus Minnesota
Chicago employed a bullpen strategy, starting Bryan Hudson as an opener before handing the ball to Jordan Hicks, Hagen Smith, Grant Taylor, and Tyler Davis. The quintet combined for 15 strikeouts and just one walk, with Smith tossing three scoreless innings before Lee’s seventh-inning homer off Taylor broke the shutout.
Twins starter Bailey Ober lasted 4 1/3 innings, exiting after Munetaka Murakami’s RBI single gave Chicago the lead. Ober allowed four hits, struck out six, and walked three, extending his winless streak to eight starts.
Antonacci padded the White Sox advantage in the sixth with a two-run double, followed by Grichuk’s RBI double. Miguel Vargas then drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh as Chicago continued to expand its lead.
The rout was completed in the eighth inning. Grichuk opened with his 12th homer of the season, Tristan Peters added an RBI double, and Teel finished the frame with a three-run blast.
Division race and upcoming schedule
The result kept Chicago 2 1/2 games ahead of Cleveland in the AL Central, while Minnesota’s slide continued with a third loss in four games.
Minnesota had yet to name a starter for Monday’s series opener at Detroit. The Tigers are expected to counter with right-hander Troy Melton, who holds a 7-4 record and a 2.20 ERA.
The White Sox will enjoy a day off on Labor Day before welcoming Pittsburgh for a three-game set starting Tuesday. Sean Burke, 8-6 with a 3.20 ERA, is slated to pitch for Chicago against Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler, who is 6-9 with a 4.30 ERA.