Cabrera, who was robbed of extra bases by an impressive Buxton catch in the fourth, got redemption one inning later. Minnesota sends Ervin Santana to the mound to face Carlos Rodon, who will be activated from the 15-day disabled list after being sidelined for 3 1/2 weeks with a sprained left wrist.TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FSN North (Minnesota) PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Carlos Rodon (2-7, 4.50 ERA) vs. Twins RH Ervin Santana (3-9, 3.78) Rodon was rocked in his last outing against the New York Yankees on July 5, giving up six runs and a season-worst 12 hits over five innings to remain winless in seven starts.
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Dan Jennings (4-3) hit Eddie Rosario with a full-count pitch to lead off the 12th. LHP Chris Sale, who was suspended five games for a clubhouse incident in which he cut up Chicago’s throwback jerseys before a game, addressed his teammates and manager Robin Ventura before Saturday’s game. “But it feels like you gave it to them if you’re not going to throw strikes”. “That’s what makes it tougher”. Duke pitched in 53 games for Chicago as a reliever this year, posting a 2.63 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings.
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Sunday, July 31, 2016, in Minneapolis.
The White Sox scored twice in the fourth inning to close to within 4-3.
Chicago starter Jose Quintana matched Nolasco all night, allowing one run on seven hits with one walk and nine strikeouts. Buxton’s two-out double in the seventh inning ended his night after 112 pitches, but Matt Albers came on to retire Dozier and strand Buxton. “It just seemed like we were chasing stuff all night”.
Michael Ynoa (1-0) walked the bases loaded three batters after Buxton’s pop out, but got Brian Dozier on a pop out to third.
Morneau then barely missed hitting his second home run as a Sox, lining a single off the right field wall for his eighth hit 35 plate appearances for the Sox, and he’s still finding his way after bouncing back from offseason elbow surgery.
“They jumped on him pretty good there early”, Chicago manager Robin Ventura said.
The Sox got another run in the 8th, on another error (Polanco), but were contained to just that one run. He’s as accurate as anyone in right field. The first homer hit the facing of the third deck in left field, an estimated 421-foot shot, to put the Twins up by two.
Justin Morneau glanced down at his White Sox uniform and wondered what the reception might be like. First pitch is set for 6:10 at Target Field. He batted fifth as the designated hitter for the White Sox on Friday.
White Sox: Todd Frazier returned after missing two games with the flu.
“(The layoff) is not an excuse”, Rodon said. 3B Trevor Plouffe did not suffer a setback during batting practice Thursday and will head out on a rehab assignment Monday with Triple-A Rochester. But Santana was able to block out the sloppy defense, and the Twins’ offense overcame its defensive lapses in a 6-4 win Sunday over the White Sox.
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Chicago’s Melky Cabrera tied the game in the ninth with an RBI single, one inning after Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar gave Minnesota a 5-4 lead with a three-run homer.
