Vargas, Nunez Lead Twins Over White Sox, 11-4
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kennys Vargas homered for the second consecutive night and Eduardo Nunez had four hits as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Chicago White Sox, 11-4, on Wednesday.
The Twins broke loose for five runs in the fifth inning to break a 3-all tie and set up Trevor May (1-4) for his first major league win. Vargas' RBI single and Eduardo Escobar's two-run triple did the bulk of the damage for Minnesota.
Vargas added a two-run homer deep into the second deck in left field in the sixth. Since being called up from the minors on Aug. 1, Vargas has 31 RBIs — third-most in the majors during that span.
May allowed three runs and six hits while striking out six in five innings.
The Twins jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first behind Nunez's RBI triple and back-to-back doubles from Josmil Pinto and Oswaldo Arcia.
White Sox starter John Danks (9-10) settled down to hold the Twins scoreless for the next three innings, and Chicago got back into it. Dayan Viciedo's two-run homer into the second deck in left brought the White Sox within a run, and Adam Eaton's RBI single tied it in the fifth.
The game was halted in the bottom half by a 16-minute rain delay. When play resumed, Vargas lined Danks' first pitch into right field for an RBI single to give the Twins a 4-3 lead.
Four batters later, Escobar hit reliever Matt Lindstrom's first pitch into the right-field corner for a two-run triple.
TWINS TIP CAPS TO KONERKO
The Twins honored White Sox captain Paul Konerko in a pregame ceremony commemorating his final game in Minnesota. First baseman Joe Mauer and closer Glen Perkins gave Konerko a bottle of wine, and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire presented a $10,000 check for the Bring Me Home Campaign, which supports foster care in Chicago.
In his 18-year career, Konerko played 256 games against the Twins, more than any player in history.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: Jose Abreu returned to the lineup at DH after being given a night off due to general soreness. "It's nothing major," manager Robin Ventura said. "I think at times it's his ankle, at other times it's his hamstring. When it all piles together he just doesn't feel all that great."
UP NEXT
The Twins open a four-game series against the Angels at Target Field on Thursday. Kyle Gibson (11-10) will look for his first win in his last four starts. He faces Hector Santiago (4-7).
The White Sox wrap up a short road swing with a three-game series in Cleveland that starts Friday. Chris Sale (11-3) pitches against fellow lefty T.J. House (2-3).
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