Sonny Gray tossed 5 scoreless innings as the Twins beat the White Sox 3-1 Wednesday to take the three game series 2-1 and cap off a 4-2 homestand.  Gray now has a 0.53 ERA through three starts this season, It appears that he also only went 5 innings today because he is battling an upper respiratory virus. He left with a lead that was never relinquished, earning himself a win. Kind of sweet justice for him after not getting the win in his previous, even better, start because the bullpen couldn’t hold that lead. 
 

The Twins won their third series out of four behind another sharp performance from a thriving rotation that ranks second in the major leagues in ERA at 2.41,
 

Top prospect Edouard Julien, called up to replace Joey Gallo on the active roster, made his big league debut going 0 for 2 with a walk. 
 

Not all was rosy for the Twins this day however. Utility infielder Kyle Farmer, starting at shortstop for Carlos Correa who needed another day off with a sore back, was hit in the face by a pitch from White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito. Farmer is headed for oral surgery to realign four teeth and repair a major laceration around his jaw. Also, outfielder/DH  Byron Buxton gave everyone a scare when he collided with White Sox second baseman Lenyn Sosa and lay on the infield dirt in pain for several minutes before walking off under his own power. 
 

The win improves the Twins record to 8-4 as they head to the Bronx to start a four game series at the House of Horrors known as Yankee Stadium to face the Bronx Bombers.

Player’s birthday profile:

Let’s look back at a player from Twins/Senators franchise history. Today’s player is Jack (John) “Black Jack” Wilson. 
 

Wilson was born on this day in 1912 in Salem, Oregon.  He played all or part of nine seasons in for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Athletics, Washington Senators, and Detroit Tigers. 
 

Wilson was a good hitting pitcher in his major league career, posting a .199 batting average with 34 runs, 3 home runs and 49 RBI in 281 games pitched.

Wilson served as a player-manager for the Salem Senators in 1947 and 1948.

Wilson died on April 19, 1995 in Edmonds Washington.