Elvis Andrus had two hits, including a three-run home run, and Gavin Sheets hit a two-run single to back seven strong innings from Lucas Giolito and lift the host Chicago White Sox to an 8-3 victory against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.
Chicago (81-80) scored four runs apiece in the third and fourth innings to seize control and assure the club of at least a .500 record this season. Chicago has won three straight and five of six.
The White Sox, who won the American League Central in 2021, extended their hold on second place in the division as they sent Minnesota (77-84) to their fourth straight defeat.
Giolito was the beneficiary of an eight-hit Chicago attack, limiting the Twins to two runs and two hits in seven innings. Giolito (11-9) walked two and struck out four while lowering his season ERA to 4.90. It had stood above 5.00 since Aug. 18.
Minnesota first baseman Luis Arraez went 1-for-4 as he vies to become the first Twin to win an AL batting title since Joe Mauer in 2009. Arraez enters Wednesday with a .315 batting average, giving him a slight edge over his nearest challenger, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, who is hitting .311.
The Twins opened the scoring on Jake Cave’s sacrifice fly in the first inning. Minnesota trimmed the deficit to 8-2 in the sixth, as Nick Gordon hit an RBI single on the heels of Giolito’s only walks of the night. Jermaine Palacios smacked a solo home run with two outs in the ninth for the team’s third run — and hit — of the night.
Twins starter Josh Winder fell to 4-6 after surrendering four runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings with one walk and two strikeouts.
Chicago’s bats were equally effective against Aaron Sanchez, reaching the reliever for four runs, three earned, and three hits in 1 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
