The Sports Xchange
May 9, 2017
CHICAGO -- Byron Buxton matched a career high with three hits, and the Minnesota Twins pulled away for a 7-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.
Buxton finished 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Kennys Vargas hit a two-run home run for Minnesota, which posted double digits in hits for the ninth time this season. Ehire Adrianza added a two-run single, while Joe Mauer and Max Kepler had RBI singles as the Twins rebounded from allowing 27 runs in consecutive home losses to the Boston Red Sox.
Jose Abreu finished 1-for-3 with an RBI single to lead the White Sox. Chicago (15-16) lost its fourth game in a row and fell below .500 for the first time since April 23.
Twins left-hander Hector Santiago (4-1) limited the White Sox to two runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings to win his third decision in a row. Santiago walked five and struck out six.
White Sox right-hander Mike Pelfrey (0-3) allowed three runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings.
The Twins broke open the game with four runs in the sixth inning to seize a 7-2 advantage.
Adrianza started the outburst with a two-run single to right field and took second on a fielding error by Avisail Garcia. After getting his first hit with the Twins, he scored on Buxton's RBI single off Chris Beck to make it 6-2.
Mauer followed with an RBI single to left field.
The White Sox jumped to a 2-0 lead in the third inning on run-scoring singles by Tyler Saladino and Abreu.
Minnesota responded with three runs in the fourth to go ahead 3-2.
Jorge Polanco singled, stole second base and scored on a hard-hit single to left field by Kepler. Vargas followed with a two-run shot over the right field wall for his fourth home run of the season.
NOTES: Twins 3B Miguel Sano served a one-game suspension for shoving Detroit Tigers C James McCann during a bench-clearing altercation April 22. Sano appealed the suspension but learned Tuesday that Major League Baseball upheld the ruling. ... White Sox DH Matt Davidson returned to the lineup after sitting out the previous two games. He went 0-for-4. ... Twins 2B Brian Dozier missed his third game in a row because of a sprained left ankle. ... White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon (left elbow bursitis) is rehabilitating at the team's spring training facility in Arizona, GM Rick Hahn said. The club has not set a specific timetable for Rodon's return to the rotation.