Dozier homers twice as Twins blank White Sox
CHICAGO -- Brian Dozier hit two home runs and drove in all four runs, and Kyle Gibson threw seven shutout innings as the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 4-0 Tuesday night.
The Twins earned their fifth in their past eight games, their first over the White Sox in seven meetings this season.
Dozier's second homer -- a three-run blast with two outs in the sixth inning -- broke the game open and provided Gibson and the Twins (25-51) with some breathing room.
Not that the right-hander needed much.
Gibson (1-5) scattered five hits and one walk while striking out seven.
Leading 1-0 in the sixth, the Twins put runners on first and second when Eduardo Nunez hit a one-out single and Joe Mauer drew a two-out walk off White Sox starter Jose Quintana.
Dozier -- who also had a single in extending his hitting streak to 10 games -- followed with his second home run of the night and 12th of the season to extend Minnesota's lead to four runs. Dozier finished 3-for-4.
Twins relievers Ryan Pressly and Brandon Kintzler each pitched an inning to complete the shutout.
Quintana continued to be doomed by a lack of run support as the White Sox (38-39) lost for only the second time in seven games. Quintana (5-8) gave up six hits -- two of which were the Dozier home runs -- struck out eight and walked one.
The Twins took a 1-0 lead when Dozier led off the second inning with a solo home run off of Quintana.
NOTES: Twins RHP Phil Hughes will undergo season-ending surgery to remove a rib and alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome. Hughes was already on the disabled list with a fracture above his left kneecap. He should be ready to open spring training next year. ... Twins RF Miguel Sano (hamstring strain) played his fifth game for Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday. Manager Paul Molitor said Sano needs more at-bats to work out some rustiness. "We're probably leaning toward getting him a few more at-bats in addition to (Tuesday's game)," Molitor said. ... White Sox 1B Justin Morneau (elbow) continues to move closer to a minor league rehabilitation assignment. He said Tuesday that he shouldn't need more than 30 at-bats before he returns to the big-league level after the All-Star break. ... RHP James Shields will make his fifth start for Chicago on Wednesday and remains in search of his first victory with the White Sox. Shields is 0-2 with a 15.80 ERA in four starts in Chicago.