White Sox at Twins
The Minnesota Twins seemed to be gaining momentum after three straight victories against Cleveland last weekend, but must win Thursday’s finale to avoid a home series loss against the last-place Chicago White Sox. The Twins needed a rally with four runs in the eighth inning to win the first game of the series and have managed five in a pair of losses since, including Wednesday’s 5-2 setback.
“They’ve outplayed us,” Minnesota manager Paul Molitor told the Star Tribune after his team left nine on base Wednesday. “They’ve run aggressively, they’ve made more plays defensively. We had one good inning.” Jose Berrios will try to salvage the split in the series and beat the White Sox for the third time this season when he takes the mound Thursday against veteran James Shields, who is 8-9 in 25 career outings versus the Twins. Chicago has won four of six in June after losing six of seven and owns 20 victories - one more than the league-worst Baltimore Orioles (19). Infielder Yolmer Sanchez takes a 10-game hitting streak (13-for-41) into the series finale for the White Sox and slugger Jose Abreu is 8-for-25 while hitting safely in his last six contests.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH James Shields (1-6, 4.48 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jose Berrios (6-5, 3.86)
Shields has not won since his season debut, but the veteran has strung together four straight quality starts and six in his past seven outings. The 36-year-old Californian gave up three solo homers for all three runs across seven innings and suffered a 5-0 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday. Brian Dozier is 12-for-38 with five doubles, four homers and 10 RBIs versus Shields, who gave up three runs over 6 2/3 innings May 6 in a no-decision against Minnesota.
Berrios has won three of his last four starts after holding Cleveland to four runs over six innings of a 7-4 triumph at home, where he is 4-2 and limits opponents to a .176 batting average. The 24-year-old Puerto Rico native owns six quality starts in 12 outings this year and boasts 74 strikeouts to go along with 14 walks in 74 2/3 innings. Sanchez is 5-for-16 with a homer against Berrios, who is 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA in six career starts versus the White Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago CF Adam Engel has multiple hits in five of his last 11 games, raising his average from .208 to .228.
2. Minnesota INF Eduardo Escobar is 13-for-30 with four homers and 13 RBIs over his last eight contests.
3. Abreu needs one homer to break a tie with Jim Thome (134) for 13th on the team’s all-time list and tie Minnie Minoso (135) for 12th.