Twins Squander Four-Run Lead, Lose 5-4
CHICAGO (AP) — The Twins quickly pounced on White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija, one of Chicago's high-profile offseason acquisitions.
But Minnesota let the big right-hander off the hook, squandering a four-run lead and losing for the fourth time in five games.
White Sox pinch-hitter J.B. Shuck had a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning to give Chicago its first win of the season, 5-4.
Shuck lined a 1-1 pitch from reliever Blaine Boyer (0-1) with two outs, scoring Alexei Ramirez, who had reached base when shortstop Danny Santana threw high to first. Chicago's Conor Gillaspie was thrown out at the plate as he tried to score from second.
That sent the Twins to a tough defeat after they earned their first win of the season Friday against the White Sox.
"Going against Samardzija, the guys put up a four-spot early and knowing how good he is, for me to give it back was disappointing," Minnesota starter Mike Pelfrey said. "That was frustrating on my part."
Pelfrey, who was limited to just five appearances in 2014 after having to elbow surgery, left with the game tied at 4 after five innings, yielding four runs and seven hits. He walked one and struck out two.
The Twins are hoping to the 6-foot-7 right-hander can round back in shape and boost their rotation, but he still has a way to go.
"It wasn't smooth," Twins manager Paul Molitor said of Pelfrey's first start since May 1, 2014. "He had a real nice first inning and after that it, every inning, they kind of put the pressure on him."
"It was game where he had to battle every inning, every pitch," Molitor added
Minnesota led 4-0 after roughing up Samardzija in the second — sending eight men to the plate and collecting five hits, including two for extra bases.
The U.S. Cellular field crowd of 22,317 was groaning and starting to boo when Chris Herrmann tripled in a run and second baseman Brian Dozier doubled home another in a 35-pitch inning for White Sox starter.
After Chicago grabbed the lead in the eighth of Boyer, former Yankees closer David Robertson struck out the side in the ninth for his first save with Chicago.
White Sox feft-hander Zach Duke (1-0) worked a scoreless eighth for the win after Chicago had lost its first four games.
"It's a good win for us," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. "I think when they're up 4-0 we're probably on the mat, the way it's been going for us.
"But they came right back and scored some runs, grinded it out, really put some pressure offensively just to keep putting guys on base and just move them around the bases," he said.
In his first home start for the White Sox, Samardzija gave up four runs and eight hits in seven innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.
White Sox first baseman Adam LaRoche broke out of a 1-for-14 slump with his first home run of the season, leading off the second against Pelfrey.
The White Sox loaded the bases with none out in the third but managed just one run on Avisail Garcia's infield single.
Third baseman Trevor Plouffe started a double play on Ramirez's grounder and Gillaspie grounded out.
Geovany Soto tied it 4-all with a leadoff home run to left in the fourth, his first of the year.
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