White Sox Halt Losing Streak As Samardzija Dominates Twins
CHICAGO (AP) -- Jeff Samardzija pitched three-hit ball over eight innings, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins, 3-2, on Friday night.
Samardzija (4-2) settled down after a two-run first, retiring 17 straight at one point.
J.B. Shuck delivered the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth, and the White Sox opened the weekend series on a winning note after dropping three in a row.
Samardzija struck out a season-high nine while walking one. He was nearly untouchable after the first, when Minnesota's Joe Mauer doubled in a run and scored.
He walked Eduardo Escobar leading off the second, then retired 17 in a row before Escobar singled with two out in the seventh. Samardzija then struck out Eddie Rosario and pounded his glove as he walked toward the dugout.
David Robertson retired the side in the ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances.
The winning rally started when Aaron Thompson (0-1) walked pinch hitter Gordon Beckham with one out in the eighth. Alexei Ramirez followed with a single off Michael Tonkin, putting runners on first and third, and Shuck drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to center.
Jose Abreu extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a line-drive single off the left-field wall in the fifth. Geovany Soto had two hits, including a two-run double, for Chicago.
Minnesota's Phil Hughes gave up two runs and eight hits over seven innings. But he did not figure in the decision after winning his previous three starts.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: RHP Casey Fien (right shoulder), on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester, is expected to pitch an inning Saturday and have two days off. Then, he will pitch on consecutive days. . OF Oswaldo Arcia (hip) is expected to start a rehab assignment this weekend at Rochester. . OF Jordan Schafer got a second opinion on his right knee from Dr. James Andrews, who confirmed he doesn't need surgery.
White Sox: RF Avisail Garcia was scratched from the lineup because of inflammation in his right knee. He was lifted for a pinch runner in the 10th inning of Monday's win over Cleveland but played in the next three games.
UP NEXT
The White Sox send ace Chris Sale (3-1, 4.36 ERA) to the mound, with RHP Trevor May (2-3, 5.15) starting for the Twins on Saturday.
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