Sale Helps White Sox Beat Twins, 6-2
CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Sale pitched six solid innings in his return from a foot injury, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 on Sunday.
Adam LaRoche homered for the second straight day and had a run-scoring single as the White Sox earned their second straight win after dropping their first four games. Alexei Ramirez also drove in two runs, including an RBI single in Chicago's three-run eighth.
Sale, who broke a bone in his right foot in an accident at home in February, threw 72 of his 98 pitches for strikes in his first start of 2015. The lanky left-hander allowed one run and five hits, struck out eight and walked one.
Minnesota dropped to 1-5 under new manager Paul Molitor. Danny Santana had two hits, including an RBI double, and Phil Hughes lasted six innings after getting off to a slow start.
The White Sox used five straight hits to produce two runs in the first. LaRoche singled in Melky Cabrera and scored on Ramirez's double to left.
Chicago almost had another run but Jose Abreu was thrown out trying to go from first to third on LaRoche's liner to left.
The Twins got on the board when Santana doubled in Eduardo Nunez in the third, but LaRoche drove Hughes' first pitch of the bottom half into the visiting bullpen in right. LaRoche, who is adjusting to his new role as Chicago's primary designated hitter, also hit a solo shot in Saturday's 5-4 victory.
Gordon Beckham added a two-run homer in the ninth as Chicago set season highs for runs and hits (12).
Sale (1-0) struck out his final two batters after Torii Hunter reached on an infield single. The ace improved to 7-1 with a 2.37 ERA in 17 games against the Twins.
Hughes (0-2) allowed eight hits, struck out four and walked none. The right-hander also pounded the zone, recording 69 strikes in his 98 pitches.
ON THE MOVE
Abreu has been taking grounders at third, and manager Robin Ventura said the big first baseman could play there in an interleague game this year.
"It's a possibility," Ventura said. "He moves around very well. He's got good hands and he makes the throw fine. He's been over there. He does have that in him."
COMING HOME
After beginning the season with a six-game trip, the Twins play their home opener on Monday against Kansas City.
It will be Molitor's first game in Minnesota since he became the manager of the Twins in November. It also marks a homecoming of sorts for Hunter, who agreed to a $10.5 million, one-year contract with his first major league team in December.
"It will be a great day," Molitor said. "Obviously we're playing one game tomorrow, but it's the first time I'll have the opportunity in this role. My hometown. My home ballpark. It will be an emotional day. It will be a good day."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: Molitor did not use RHP Casey Fien (shoulder stiffness). Fien hasn't appeared in a game since he worked a scoreless inning against Detroit on Thursday. "We're going to back Casey off one more day," Molitor said. "Feels like he's improving."
UP NEXT
RHP Trevor May gets the ball for Minnesota on Monday against Kansas City LHP Danny Duffy (0-0, 9.00 ERA). It's the first game of the season for May.
Chicago gets a day off before beginning a two-game set at Cleveland. White Sox LHP Jose Quintana (0-0, 9.00 ERA) faces Indians RHP Carlos Carrasco (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on Tuesday night.
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