Dioner Navarro's Double Lifts White Sox Past Twins in 10th
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dioner Navarro hit a tiebreaking double in the 10th inning to drive in Avisail Garcia and lift the Chicago White Sox to a 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night.
Garcia hit a leadoff double against Fernando Abad (1-4), and then scored easily when Navarro drove a fastball from Abad to the left-field corner.
Michael Ynoa (1-0) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for his first win of the season, David Robertson pitched the 10th for his 25th save.
Minnesota was one out from completing a comeback win when Melky Cabrera's two-out single in the ninth scored Tim Anderson to make it 5-all heading into the bottom half. The Twins nearly pulled off their second walkoff win in two nights when Ynoa walked Max Kepler to load the bases for Brian Dozier, who popped out to third to send it to extra innings.
Eduardo Escobar hit a two-out, three-run homer in the eighth off Matt Albers to put the Twins up 5-4. But Brandon Kintzler blew his first save opportunity in nine chances on Cabrera's third RBI of the night.
Albers and Dan Jennings failed to hold onto a two-run lead in the eighth, wasting a solid seven-inning performance by starter Miguel Gonzalez.
Justin Morneau homered and hit an RBI double against his old team, and Cabrera also drove in a pair of runs against Twins starter Tommy Milone, who looked sharp early before yielding hits to five of his final seven batters.
Gonzalez scattered six hits, struck out five and lasted seven innings for third time this month. His 114 pitches were a season high. Minnesota's only run against him the first six innings came in a three-error third that saw Byron Buxton flash his impressive speed on the base paths.
The White Sox tied it the next inning on back-to-back doubles by Garcia and Morneau. Morneau hit his second homer of the season in the sixth on a 3-1 pitch off Milone that traveled 402 feet into the left-field seats to make it 4-1.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: Manager Robin Ventura gave Adam Eaton the day off, saying "he's been beat up quite a bit lately" with fouling pitches off his feet and ankles, and getting hit by a pitch Friday night. Ventura said he was also hoping to rest Eaton on Sunday to give him three full days off. "He's not necessarily going to ask for one, but I know he needs one," the manager said. ... INF Todd Frazier missed a second straight game with flu-like symptoms. Ventura said he hoped to have Frazier back on Sunday.
UP NEXT
White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon (2-7) is expected to be activated Sunday and start his first game since July 5. Rodon went on the DL earlier this month after hurting his wrist when he stumbled on dugout steps.
Twins: Ervin Santana (3-9) goes for his first win in three tries against the White Sox this season. Santana lost his previous start despite throwing a complete game against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
