Santana's one-hit gem sends Twins past White Sox
MINNEAPOLIS -- Ervin Santana pitched a one-hitter for his ninth career shutout and the Minnesota Twins scored five runs in the first inning to beat the Chicago White Sox 6-0 on Saturday.
Santana (3-0) gave up one walk, struck out eight and extended his scoreless innings streak to 18. Minnesota earned a split in the first two games of the series.
The Twins jumped on White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana (0-3) with four straight hits in the bottom of the first inning. Max Kepler capped the big frame with a two-run triple.
Santana has been nearly unhittable early this season. He's allowed five hits in 22 innings and beat Chicago for the second time in a week. He's allowed one run in his three starts, coming on Opening Day against Kansas City.
Minnesota's pitching has propelled the Twins to a 7-4 start, along with some highlight defense.
Byron Buxton and Kepler have made several diving catches in the outfield this season. Shortstop Jorge Polanco made a spinning grab and throw of a grounder up the middle to finish the sixth and third baseman Miguel Sano made a running catch in foul ground in the seventh.
Minnesota started the game with the second-best ERA in the American League at 2.69, just behind Chicago's 2.53. The Twins' bullpen had the third-best ERA in the AL.
Robbie Grossman added two hits, two walks and an RBI and Kespler also had two hits.
Grossman led off with a double to left field and six of the first seven batters had hits for the Twins. Mauer, Sano and Polanco each had RBI hits before Kepler lined a ball straight down the right-field line.
Quintana induced Joe Mauer to bounce out on a check swing dribbler to leave the bases loaded in the inning.
Quintana, Chicago's No. 1 starter, managed to give the team 5 2/3 innings before departing. He allowed five runs on nine hits and five walks with five strikeouts.
The left-hander was one of six pitchers with at least 200 innings logged and 30-plus starts in each of the last four seasons. Quintana didn't have an ERA above 3.51 during the four years. He's given up 13 runs in 16 1/3 innings (6.75 ERA) this season.
NOTES: Minnesota 2B Brian Dozier was held out Saturday after experience some swelling in his right knee following Friday's game. Dozier had an MRI, which came back clean and he said he could have played, if needed. ... Chicago 3B Todd Frazier left the game after striking out in the fourth. The team announced he had a recurrence of flu-like symptoms, which had caused him to miss two games this past week. ... Twins 3B Miguel Sano singled in the first and has reached base safely in every game he's played this season. ... White Sox OF Jacob May was back in the lineup in center field after being held out for three games. The rookie was 0-for-14 this season coming into the game and finished Saturday 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. ... The three-game series ends Sunday with Minnesota LHP Hector Santiago (1-1, 2.38 ERA) squaring off against Chicago RHP James Shields (1-0, 1.69).