Game Recap: White Sox 2, Twins 1

Box Score
Shoemaker: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Home Runs: Cruz (10)
Bottom 3 WPA: Kepler -.194, Garlick -.130, Sano -.112
Win Probability Chart (via Fangraphs)

Matt Shoemaker Gives Twins a Quality Start

It has been a rough stretch for Twins starter Matt Shoemaker of late, as he has a paltry 7.83 ERA over his last five starts entering play on Wednesday. That makes today’s start by Shoemaker all the more encouraging, as he gave the Twins his first quality start since his first start of the season. This one, however, was much more impressive as it came against the game’s best lineup in the Chicago White Sox, as opposed to one of the game’s worst lineups in the Detroit Tigers.

Shoemaker cruised through the first three innings, as the only base runners that he allowed were on a couple of meaningless two out walks, one in the first and another in the second. However, as the White Sox began their second turn through the rotation, Shoemaker began to show a few kinks in the armor. In the fourth, Shoemaker gave up a leadoff single to Yoan Moncada and hit Andrew Vaughn with pitch, but was able to get out of the first and third situation after striking out Zack Collins to get out of the inning.

Both the fifth and sixth innings began with a leadoff double from the White Sox that eventually came around to score both of the White Sox runs in today’s ballgame. In the fifth, the White Sox used small ball to scratch across a run as Danny Mendick laid down a sac bunt to advance Leury Garcia to third, who eventually scored on an infield single from Adam Eaton who narrowly beat out the Jorge Polanco throw from short, robbing Miguel Sano of what would have be an amazing defensive play.

Cruz Missile Provides Twins Offense

After getting a rest day on Tuesday, Nelson Cruz appeared fresh and ready to go for today’s game. He got the bat going with a single in the first, and then, after Luis Arraez and Jorge Polanco both struck out to begin the third, Nelson Cruz connected on fastball that just narrowly avoided the left-center field wall to get the Twins on the board early. 

Lucas Giolito Shuts Down Twins Lineup

It wasn’t the cleanest of starts to the game for White Sox ace Lucas Giolito, who gave up a leadoff walk in both the first and second innings, to go along with the solo home run he gave up to Nelson Cruz in the third. However, Giolito had only given up one run to that point, and then he absolutely dominated the Twins lineup the rest of the way, as he gave up just one baserunner over his final five innings of work.

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet

What’s Next?

On Thursday, the Twins will head to Los Angels for a makeup double-header against the Angels. Lewis Thorp will take the mound in Game 1 that is slated to begin at 3:07 CT. Jose Berrios will pitch Game 2 that should begin roughly 30 minutes after the conclusion of game 1. Both Angels starts are still TBD.