Twins 7, White Sox 0
CHICAGO -- The Minnesota Twins hit Chicago White Sox ace left-hander Chris Sale for six early runs for his shortest stint in five months on the way to a 7-0 victory on Sunday.
The Twins (74-68) took two of three from the White Sox and beat Sale for the fourth time this season to remain in the hunt for an American League wild card berth.
Minnesota right fielder Torii Hunter went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, including a three-run first inning home run. Left fielder Eddie Rosario had three hits and one run batted in as the Twins pounded out 15 hits.
Sale (12-9) gave up two more runs in the third and did not return. It was his shortest start since working three innings on April 30 in a 12-2 loss to the Twins.
Chicago (67-74) dropped its third in four games.
Twins right-handed starter Kyle Gibson (10-10) worked 7 2/3 innings before departing with two out in the eighth and White Sox runners on first and second. Right-handed reliever Casey Fien got shortstop Tyler Saladino to ground out to end the inning.
Gibson, now 4-0 all-time against Chicago, allowed five hits, struck out seven and walked one in his fifth shutout result of the year.
The Twins sent eight men to the plate in the first and scored four times after two were out.
Designated hitter Miguel Sano's single to center scored center fielder Aaron Hicks for a 1-0 lead. After third baseman Trevor Plouffe's base hit to right center, Hunter cleared the bases with his 19th homer of the season -- a three-run shot to make it 4-0 -- after fouling off six pitches.
In the Twins' third, Hunter collected another RBI with a two-out single that scored Sano. Rosario's base hit to center brought home Plouffe for a 6-0 lead.
Sale gave up six runs on nine hits while striking out three before being relieved by right-hander Frankie Montas.
Montas gave up a sixth inning run as first baseman Joe Mauer singled home catcher Kurt Suzuki. He then faced the bases loaded with two out but struck out Plouffe to escape without more damage.
Chicago appeared to break the shutout in the sixth when second baseman Micah Johnson beat a tag at the plate on Saladino's fielder's choice grounder. But the call was overturned and Johnson was out.
NOTES: The Twins have had White Sox LHP Chris Sale's number all season, beating him three times entering Sunday. ... OF Torii Hunter's first-inning homer was his 19th of the season and 350th of his career. He also tied Bob Allison for fifth on the club's career list with 211 homers as Twins. ... Minnesota is scheduled to send RHP Tyler Duffey (2-1, 4.18 ERA) against Detroit's Kyle Lobstein (3-7, 5.31) in the opener of a three-game home series on Monday. ... White Sox LHP John Danks (7-12, 4.60 ERA) makes his 27th start of the season on Monday when Chicago opens a four-game home series against Oakland. RHP Sonny Gray (13-7, 2.28) goes for the A's. ... 1B Jose Abreu is on pace for 31 home runs and 100 RBIs after collecting 36 homers and 107 RBIs in his rookie of the year campaign in 2014. ... Chicago has used eight starters in 2015, tied with Baltimore and Pittsburgh for second fewest. Pittsburgh has used seven. ... Chicago RHP David Robertson has made eight straight scoreless relief appearances entering Sunday and had a 1.90 ERA in his last 22 appearances.