CHW 6, MIN 4: Sanó Homers Twice, Twins Fall Short in Chicago

Box Score

Berríos: 7.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 74.3% strikes (78 of 105 pitches)

Bullpen: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Home Runs: Sanó, 2 (11)

Multi-Hit Games: Sanó, (2-for-3, 2 HR), Kepler (2-for-5), Adrianza (2-for-3, R)

Top 3 WPA: Sano .245, Adrianza .088, Cruz .068

Bottom 3 WPA: Polanco -.289, Berrios -.201, Schoop -.157

The Twins are in the middle of their roughest patch of the season, at least injury wise. Already playing without center fielder Byron Buxton and super utility man Marwin Gonzalez, Minnesota was also forced to place backup catcher Willians Astudillo in the IL yesterday and left fielder Eddie Rosario today. Once again, Rocco Baldelli had to deploy infielder Luis Arraez on the outfield. To make things worse, a number of relief pitchers were not available to pitch tonight, due to all of them being used in Thursday 18-inning marathon against the Rays.

A couple of home runs put both teams on the board early. James McCann hit a two-out, two-run shot early off Twins starter José Berríos, to put the White Sox ahead in the first. The Twins responded immediately. After Ehire Adrianza hit a triple in his first trip to the plate, Miguel Sanó tied it up with a bomb to the left field.

https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1144767431547785216

Berríos Pitches Deep Into the Game

Coming off a shortened start against the Royals, due to a blister on his right ring finger, Berríos pitched into the eighth inning, which was critical for the team, considering the bullpen shortage. But he gave up nine hits (first time since May 24) and allowed a season worst six runs (four earned). Small ball killed him tonight, as seven of the nine hits he gave up were singles. Four of them came in the fifth inning.

The White Sox secured the win in the bottom of the eighth, when Berríos saw Eloy Jiménez hit his first pitch up in the zone, making this Berríos’ first multi-homer game since May 13.

Sanó Homers Twice, Adrianza Comes Back Hot

In spite of the loss, Sanó’s game was the highlight of the night. For the second time this season, first since May 23, the third baseman went yard twice. He helped initiate a late rally in the top of the ninth, bringing the game within reach, but that wasn’t enough. Sanó now holds a .829 OPS and became the eighth Twin to reach double-digits in home runs, making Minnesota the first team to do so this year.

https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1144803072796962816

Coming back from the IL, Adrianza finished the night the way he left the team before the injury: red-hot. He had two hits on the night, including a triple, to go with one walk. He did have two crucial errors during the game though, but his return was much needed and hopefully will make things a bit easier for Baldelli now.

Minnesota falls to 52-29, but still holds an eight-game lead over the Indians, who were crushed in Baltimore, 13-0. The Twins will try to even the series tomorrow, with Michael Pineda facing Iván Nova. They’ll try to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season.

Postgame With Baldelli

https://twitter.com/fsnorth/status/1144817668421083137

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

Click here for a review of the number of pitches thrown by each member of the bullpen over the past five days.