Dozier homers twice as Twins beat White Sox
MINNEAPOLIS — Brian Dozier homered twice and scored three runs as the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox by a 6-4 final Sunday at Target Field.
Dozier’s home runs came after Chicago had cut Minnesota’s lead to 4-3 in the fourth inning. The first homer hit the facing of the third deck in left field, an estimated 421-foot shot, to put the Twins up by two.
Two innings later, Dozier added another insurance run by just clearing the fence in left field for a 6-3 lead. It marked the fourth career multi-homer game for Dozier. Three of those have been against the White Sox.
Kennys Vargas also homered for Minnesota, which beat the White Sox for just the third time this year but the second time this weekend. Vargas reached base in all four of his plate appearances, including a pair of walks.Twins righthander Ervin Santana (4-9) picked up the win after six strong innings. He allowed three runs, just one of which was earned. Santana struck out five and walked a pair.
Carlos Rodon (2-8) was hit hard early in his first start back from the disabled list with a sore wrist. The Chicago righty surrendered three runs in the first inning and another in the third. He eventually settled in but surrendered a home run to Dozier in the fifth. Rodon gave way to reliever Carson Fulmer in the seventh.
Chicago did its best to capitalize on sloppy play by Minnesota’s defense. The Twins committed four errors, which led to three unearned White Sox runs. It wasn’t quite enough for Chicago, though, which fell to 23-30 on the road.
Minnesota jumped on Rodon in the first inning. Vargas delivered the big shot with a two-run homer to put Minnesota up 3-0 in the first.
Minnesota tacked on a run in the fourth, but not after Chicago got on the board. Melky Cabrera’s single to center scored Adam Eaton for the first White Sox run.
Vargas was largely responsible for Minnesota’s fourth run, reaching base on a single and scoring all the way from first on a double by Jorge Polanco. The Twins’ defense didn’t do much to help Santana in the fourth inning. Minnesota committed two errors in the inning, both of which led to unearned runs. Miguel Sano couldn’t make a clean throw on a routine grounder to third base, which would have ended the inning. One batter later, Omar Narvaez singled to center, scoring Todd Frazier. On the Narvaez single, center fielder Eddie Rosario’s throw to third base sailed high, allowing Tyler Saladino to come home to cut Minnesota’s lead to 4-3.
Rosario was filling in defensively for Byron Buxton, who exited the game after the second inning with right knee soreness. Buxton appeared to injure his knee while stealing second base standing up. He was eventually pulled from the game after the inning and is considered day-to-day.
Dozier added a run to the Twins’ lead with a solo homer off the facing of the third deck in left field. Dozier’s 18th home run of the year made it a 5-3 game after five innings.
NOTES: Before Sunday’s game, the White Sox traded LHP Zach Duke to St. Louis in exchange for OF Charlie Tilson. Duke pitched in 53 games for Chicago as a reliever this year, posting a 2.63 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings. Tilson batted .282 with 34 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 100 games for Triple-A Memphis. … RHP Jose Berrios will be recalled by the Twins before Monday’s game in Cleveland, manager Paul Molitor said. Molitor did not say when Berrios’ next start would be, though. He is scheduled to pitch Monday, but RHP Tyler Duffey is currently slated as the Twins’ starter for that day. … The White Sox continue their road trip Tuesday with a three-game series in Detroit. RHP James Shields (5-12, 4.68 ERA) will start the series opener for Chicago. … Minnesota starts a seven-game road trip with a four-game series in Cleveland, beginning Monday.
