White Sox at Twins (Game 1)
The Minnesota Twins have pushed their way back into the American League Central race with an offensive barrage and look to stay hot when they host the last-place Chicago White Sox on Tuesday for a doubleheader. The Twins took the final three of a four-game set against first-place Cleveland with a big assist from outfielder Eddie Rosario and have recorded 37 runs in their last five contests.
“It’s really important,” Rosario told reporters after belting three homers, including a walk-off blast, in Sunday’s 7-5 victory. “These three games, we proved the Twins belong. It’s a long season but it’s a good experience for the team to win these games.” Rosario is 17-for-38 during a nine-game hitting streak and Brian Dozier went 6-for-13 with four RBIs in the last three contests for Minnesota, which moved within 3 1/2 games of the Indians in the division. The White Sox own the second-worst record in the majors, but knocked off National League Central leader Milwaukee in two of three games over the weekend at home. Chicago manager Rick Renteria told reporters: “Any time you play a very good ballclub and you’re able to take a couple from them in a three-game series, you’re showing you’re fighting and you’re able to do it.”
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (1-4, 3.80 ERA) vs. Twins RH Fernando Romero (2-2, 4.15)
Lopez makes his first start in June after an up and down month of May, which ended with a loss at Cleveland on Wednesday when he allowed seven runs over 2 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old Dominican Republic registered three quality starts in May, but gave up five or more in the other three. Logan Morrison is 5-for-6 with two homers versus Lopez, who started May by allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits over 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Twins.
The Twins had yet to announce their starters Monday night, but Romero is likely to start one of the games after permitting eight runs on nine hits across 1 2/3 innings last Wednesday - following five solid starts to begin his major league career. The 23-year-old Dominican Republic native yielded seven runs over 28 2/3 innings and one homer in his first five starts of the season for Minnesota after giving up six earned runs in 21 frames at Triple-A Rochester. Romero, who has 30 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings with the Twins, is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA at home in two starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago INF Yolmer Sanchez is 9-for-28 with two triples and a homer during a seven-game hitting streak.
2. Minnesota OF Ryan LaMarre was 7-for-16 with three doubles and three RBIs in the Cleveland series.
3. The Twins have won four of the five games against the White Sox in 2018 and seven the past eight overall.