Josh Donaldson returned from the injured list with two hits and two RBIs for the Minnesota Twins, who backed José Berríos with three home runs and beat the Chicago White Sox 8-1 on Wednesday night.
Jake Cave and Miguel Sanó hit solo shots, Eddie Rosario had a two-run homer and Berríos (3-3) pitched six sharp innings for the Twins. Two of Chicago's four errors directly contributed to Minnesota's highest score in 19 games.
White Sox starter Reynaldo López (0-2) struggled again, getting only five outs before Donaldson's two-run double in the second prompted a call to the bullpen. Chicago (22-15) fell one game behind AL Central leader Cleveland (23-14), with Minnesota (22-16) in third place, 1 1/2 games back.
Chicago White Sox pitcher Reynaldo Lopez throws to a Minnesota Twins batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)
López has logged just 9 2/3 innings in four turns this season, having missed about a month because of shoulder soreness. He managed to keep the Twins from scoring after loading the bases with no outs in the first, but Cave took him deep in the next inning on a drive that grazed the glove of center fielder Luis Robert as the rookie tried to snag it over the wall in front of the bullpen. With no crowd noise, the first sign the ball was gone came from a Twins reliever who thrust both arms in the air from behind the fence.
The Twins stopped a six-game losing streak Tuesday, directly boosted by the return of starting pitcher Michael Pineda from suspension and center fielder Byron Buxton from a sore shoulder.
Donaldson, the marquee winter addition for the Twins on a $92 million contract, missed exactly half of the 60-game season with a calf strain that has dogged him in the past. He was only 4 for 22 with four walks in seven games before getting hurt.
Minnesota Twins broadcaster Bert Blyleven tosses a ball to himself as he broadcasts the baseball game between the Twins and Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Minneapolis. (Jeff WheelerStar Tribune via AP)
Just as Donaldson came back, the Twins watched two more regulars leave early with new injuries. Right fielder Max Kepler was removed after the second inning with tightness in his left groin, and second baseman Luis Arraez hobbled off the field after reaching base in the sixth and hurting his lower right leg. Minnesota catcher Alex Avila was scratched before the game began with lower back tightness.
BYE, BLYLEVEN
Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Blyleven worked his final game as a television analyst for the Twins, who will continue to employ the former curveball specialist and noted ballpark prankster as a special assistant for spring training instruction and various public appearances.
Blyleven, in his 25th year in the booth after spending 11 of his 22 major league seasons with the Twins over two stints, had his uniform number (28) retired by the club in 2011. Justin Morneau has been the analyst most often paired with play-by-play announcer Dick Bremer this year, with fellow former Twins Roy Smalley and Jack Morris also taking turns.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: Yoán Moncada returned from a three-game absence due to discomfort in the back of his lower left leg. “Our training staff has found a way to try to manage it,” manager Rick Renteria said.
Twins: Avila was replaced behind the plate and in the lineup by rookie Ryan Jeffers. Regular catcher Mitch Garver missed his 13th straight game because of a strained muscle on his right side.
UP NEXT
White Sox: RHP Dylan Cease (4-2, 3.00 ERA) takes the mound Thursday to begin a four-game series at Kansas City. LHP Danny Duffy (2-2, 4.11 ERA) pitches for the Royals.
Twins: After an off day on Thursday, Detroit visits Target Field for a five-game series starting with a doubleheader Friday. RHP Randy Dobnak (5-2, 3.12 ERA) pitches the opener for Minnesota opposite LHP Matthew Boyd (1-4, 7.27). Starters are to be determined for the nightcap, which is a postponement from last weekend at Comerica Park in which the Tigers will be the home team.
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White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson and first baseman José Abreu each made throwing errors on the same sloppy play, allowing the Minnesota Twins to score the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of a 2-1 victory over Chicago on Friday night.
Anderson made his sixth error in three games when he skipped a throw to first on Carlos Correa's two-out infield single that scored Ryan Jeffers from third. Correa may have stepped on Abreu's glove while he tried to scoop the ball, ripping it off Abreu's hand.
Abreu chased down the misfire and whipped the ball home, even though baserunner Luis Arraez had stopped at third. Abreu's throw was also wild, and Arraez scampered home for a 2-1 lead.
Chicago White Sox's Andrew Vaughn rounds the bases and points to center field where he hit a home run against Minnesota Twins pitcher Bailey Ober during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 22, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoCraig Lassig)
Anderson was suspended shortly before first pitch Friday after giving a fan in Cleveland the middle finger Wednesday, when he had three errors in two innings as Chicago fell into a 10-0 hole. He's appealing the ban and will play until the matter is settled.
The 28-year-old had two more errors in a loss Thursday and has six through 10 games this year. He committed 10 errors all of last season.
The White Sox loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but Emilio Pagán escaped for his second save. He got Reese McGuire to pop out for the second out and struck out Jake Burger looking to end the game.
Chicago White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech throws against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 22, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoCraig Lassig)
Twins starter Bailey Ober’s only blunder was a solo homer by Andrew Vaughn in the fifth inning. Ober struck out six and didn’t issue a walk in five innings.
The loss for Chicago negated another strong start for Michael Kopech. Chicago’s 25-year-old right-hander tossed five scoreless innings and struck out seven. Kopech has allowed just one earned run in three starts this year.
Gary Sanchéz was scratched from the Twins lineup shortly before Friday’s game, but no reason was given. He was originally slated to catch and bat seventh.
Minnesota Twins pitcher Bailey Ober throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 22, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoCraig Lassig)
Kendall Graveman (0-1) was charged with the loss. Tyler Duffey (1-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win.
GREEN GLOVE
The Twins were awarded the 2021 Green Glove Award, given by Major League Baseball to the team with the highest waste diversion rate. Nearly 99% of waste at Target Field last season was saved from landfills, which was tops in the majors. It’s the first time since the award’s inception in 2008 that it went to a team other than the San Francisco Giants (12 times) or Seattle Mariners (twice).
Minnesota Twins third baseman Gio Urshela dives to stop a ground ball single hit by Chicago White Sox's Gavin Sheets during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 22, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoCraig Lassig)
ROSTER MOVE
Before Friday’s game, Chicago placed RHP Matt Foster on the family medical leave list and reinstated OF A.J. Pollock from the 10-day injured list. Pollock was placed on the IL on April 12 with a strained right hamstring after appearing in just two games this season.
UP NEXT
Chicago White Sox's Andrew Vaughn (25) celebrates with third base coach Joe McEwing after hitting a home run against Minnesota Twins pitcher Bailey Ober during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 22, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoCraig Lassig)
RHP Vince Velasquez (0-1, 4.15 ERA) is making his third start of the season Saturday for Chicago and will look to make it through five innings for the first time this year. Minnesota will counter with Dylan Bundy (2-0, 0.87), who has allowed just one run in his first two starts in a Twins uniform.
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Minnesota Twins's Luis Arraez (2) cerebrates with teammates after scoring after the Chicago White Sox commit two errors on a play during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, April 22, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoCraig Lassig)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Emilio Pagan reacts after striking out Chicago White Sox's Jake Burger with the bases loaded to win a baseball game, Friday, April 22, 2022, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoCraig Lassig)
