Twins 6, White Sox 4: As Connor Prielipp Learns the Ropes, Twins Rally Past White Sox

[Steven Trefz]

Box Score
SP: Connor Prielipp 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K (94 pitches, 62 strikes (66%))
Home Runs: N/A
Top 3 WPA: Luke Keaschall (0.23), Tristan Gray (0.23), Alex Jackson (0.14) & Yoendrys Gómez (0.14)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) 

The Twins took advantage of the White Sox's road woes on Monday night, and they looked to keep regaining ground against their division rival on Lou Gehrig Day. Two young starters got a second crack at their foes. Chicago's rising star Davis Martin looked to pick up his second win in less than a week against the Twins, while Minnesota's young lefty Connor Prielipp looked for revenge after giving up six runs in less than five innings earlier in the week to the South-Siders. 

White Sox Hit the Third Running
Prielipp coasted through the first two frames, but ran into some classic 2026 Twins moments in the top of the third inning. The speedster Luisangel Acuña worked a leadoff walk on a full count, and then proceeded to steal second base. Then he stole third base, and Alex Jackson's throw soared into left field, allowing Acuña to trot home for the game's first run without the batter, Jacob Gonzalez, having to do a thing. After Gonzalez struck out, Chase Meidroth and Randal Grichuk struck with a single and a double, which set up Miguel Vargas for a two-run single to put the Pale Hose out to a 3-0 advantage with some uncharacteristic Chicago small ball.

Twins Run it Right Back
Martin was pitching well, but the Twins batters took advantage of their recent muscle memory in the batter's box and finally broke through on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Tristan Gray led off with a single, and then was gifted second on a Martin balk. Jackson attempted to sacrifice bunt. Instead, Gonzalez decided to cover the ground two feet in front of the base instead of the actual base—and he chose not to try to tag Jackson, either. Runners were at the corners with nobody out, but Byron Buxton struck out looking. Luckily, Brooks Lee kept his RBIs rolling with a sac fly to make it 3-1. 

Prielipp took care of the Sox in short order in the top of the fourth, and kept the pressure on his opponent. Martin crumbled under that pressure, surrendering six straight hits to plate four runs. Luke Keaschall got the scoring rolling with an RBI single in the fourth, and he ultimately ended the Twins' scoring with an RBI single in the fifth. By the time the Keaschall bookend was finished, it was 6-3 Twins. Honorable RBI mentions go to Gray (2) and Jackson (1) as well, but the highlight is all Luke's.

Nothing's Ever Easy at Target Field
The fans began to show up mid-game, and by the time the adult beverages had impacted the tarps-off section, the atmosphere lent itself to some on-field excitement. Prielipp attempted to pitch into the seventh inning, but he got chased by two singles, and it was going to be up to the bullpen to hold the home turf. Andrew Morris got the call with runners on the corners and nobody out, and he quickly uncorked a wild bender to make that two Sox in scoring position with nobody out. Meidroth then buried a sinker toward Lee at third, and Lee couldn't quite complete an amazing play. With the lead now cut to 6-4, and still nobody out, Morris hunkered down and took down Grichuk and Vargas on strikeouts while, hitting 100 MPH for the first time. With the situation still on edge, Morris then plunked Colson Montgomery to load the bases. It was Anthony Banda's turn to save the day. Sam Antonacci stood at the plate, and four pitches later, he followed his "sword" back to the dugout, and the Twins fans could breathe again.

Banda decided that the eighth inning should also be exciting, as he struck out the first two batters but then got stung by Acuña's speed and a Gonzalez walk. Yoendrys Gómez came in to put out the smoldering fire, and he immediately struck out Meidroth swinging before a flame could flicker. Manager Derek Shelton stuck with Gómez for the ninth, and Gómez repaid his skipper with a 1-2-3, stressless endgame. Time to prep the brooms at Target Field!

What’s Next?
The Twins look to sweep their way back into the AL Central picture on Wednesday afternoon. It will be a matchup of less familiar faces on the mound, as neither starter took part in the four-game series last week. The Twins will send out righty Taj Bradley (5-1, 3.21 ERA), who last got a no-decision after being chased early in Pittsburgh. The White Sox will send veteran righty Erick Fedde (0-5, 5.40 ERA) out to salvage the finale. First pitch is scheduled for 12:40 pm CDT.

Postgame Interviews

 

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

	FRI	SAT	SUN	MON	TUE	TOT
Paredes	0	0	60	0	0	60
Gómez	14	0	0	15	15	44
Banda	18	0	0	0	20	38
Orze	23	0	0	0	0	23
Adams	0	0	0	19	0	19
Morris	0	0	0	0	18	18
Laweryson	16	0	0	0	0	16
Rogers	12	0	0	0	0	12
Lawrence	0	0	0	0	0	0

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[Permanent Twins Fan]

A really great game all around. Solid start from Prielipp. The Twins are going to need him with so many starters injured. Dominant showing by the bullpen allowing just two hits and striking out 7 in three innings. The offense had a great game. They didn't hit homers, but they were clutch at the plate and had timely hitting. They also only struck out 4 times as a team today compared to 14 by the White Sox. Good win. Hopefully we can bust out the brooms tomorrow with Taj on the mound. Go Twins.

[Sampson5]

Be nice to get a little revenge and finish the sweep . With taj on the mound I like our chances also be nice for taj to have a long outing so the pen can be pretty fresh going into this last stretch of consecutive games without a off day . Good sign that alot of the slumping hitters starting to show some life . Maybe the wheels aren't yet falling off every time I expect them to pack it up they respond by a winning streak 

[JD-TWINS]

Banda & Gomez are both DFA guys from other organizations - they both looked pretty sharp on Tuesday night!

Morris getting Vargas with the 100 mph fastball with a couple guys on base was a bit deal!

7-8-9 hitters went 6-12 with 5 RBI…… that’s huge!

Luke Keaschall has been hitting the ball with some authority lately - even when making outs - very encouraging that he’s now near .250 BA & .320 OBP…….Josh Bell has hits in 6 straight & is contributing again - nice.

Larnach & Martin were 1-5 between them but each had a Walk and each scored a run.

[Parfigliano]

7 minutes ago, Sampson5 said:

Be nice to get a little revenge and finish the sweep . With taj on the mound I like our chances also be nice for taj to have a long outing so the pen can be pretty fresh going into this last stretch of consecutive games without a off day . Good sign that alot of the slumping hitters starting to show some life . Maybe the wheels aren't yet falling off every time I expect them to pack it up they respond by a winning streak 

Still picturing Wile E Coyote, feet spinning, after running off the cliff.

[FlyingFinn]

7 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Banda & Gomez are both DFA guys from other organizations

We traded for Banda, unless your saying he was DFA'd prior to his stint with the Dodgers.

[jmlease1]

Solid enough effort from Prielipp, and nice to see him get through 6. Back to back solid (if not great) starts got us wins and kept the bullpen from running out of guys already. Pretty important until we get some guys back off the IL. 

Some good clutch hitting and solid baserunning to help get runs across the plate, and frankly we needed every one we could find. A little fortunate to bunch up hits at the bottom of the lineup; could have used a bit more pop.

Mixed bag for Jackson: 2 hits, but also 2 errors. seems to have a good feel for making challenges?