White Sox Hang On For 9-6 Win After Strong Start From James Shields
CHICAGO (AP) — James Shields broke out of a slump with 6 2/3 innings against one of baseball's worst lineups, helping the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins, 9-6, on Wednesday night.
Shields (3-9) allowed one run and eight hits in his first win since he tossed seven scoreless innings for San Diego at Milwaukee on May 12. The right-hander got hit hard after he was acquired by Chicago in a trade June 4, going 0-2 with a 15.80 ERA in his first four starts.
Todd Frazier, Brett Lawrie and Tyler Saladino homered for the White Sox, who improved to 7-1 against the Twins after losing 4-0 in the series opener on Tuesday. Saladino and Tim Anderson each had two hits and two RBIs.
Chicago carried a 9-1 lead into the ninth, but Max Kepler's two-run double got Minnesota within three with two out. Nate Jones then came in with runners on second and third and retired Eduardo Escobar on a fly ball to left for his second save.
Eduardo Nunez homered on Shields' second pitch of the game, but it was a mostly frustrating night for Minnesota at the plate. The Twins, who rank near the bottom of the majors in several offensive categories, went 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.
Nunez finished with three hits and Brian Dozier extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a double in the sixth. Dozier also has at least one extra-base hit in a franchise-record 10 straight games.
Minnesota had a chance to tie it at 2 in the fifth, but Kurt Suzuki was cut down by Adam Eaton's major league-best 11th assist when he tried to score on Nunez's double to the wall in right. Suzuki was basically forced to head home when Nunez nearly ran him over near third.
Saladino belted a solo shot against Ricky Nolasco in the bottom half, and the White Sox broke it open with five runs in the sixth. Frazier led off with his 22nd homer and Anderson contributed a two-run single.
Nolasco (3-6) was charged with seven runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings in his second straight loss.
MISSING MELKY
White Sox outfielder Melky Cabrera had an MRI on his ailing right wrist and will miss a couple of days with a mild sprain.
Cabrera originally hurt his wrist when he tried for a diving catch during a 13-2 loss at Cleveland on June 18. He tweaked it again on a swing in the series opener against the Twins and hit his wrist against the wall while going after Dozier's second homer of the game.
"It's difficult because I want to play, but the doctors said the best for me right now is just to take a rest for a couple of days because I have inflammation there," Cabrera said through a translator.
D'OH
There were laughs in Minnesota's clubhouse as players watched video of third baseman Miguel Sano losing a popup in the sun and having it bounce off his head before first baseman James Beresford made a diving catch in Sano's rehab game for Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday afternoon. Sano, recovering from a strained left hamstring, was uninjured. "The other guy caught it, too, somehow," manager Paul Molitor said in disbelief.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: Molitor said RHP Phil Hughes has "peace of mind" after learning he needs season-ending shoulder surgery, explaining his fatigue and loss of velocity. "It spoke to the fact that he had trouble sustaining himself and stiffening," Molitor said. Hughes, already sidelined with a knee injury, is scheduled for surgery next Wednesday.
White Sox: RHP Zach Putnam is working out while he rests his ailing right elbow. Season-ending surgery is a possibility. "Obviously the goal is to avoid that if possible," he said. "I think we are going to give it the old college try and try to see if we can get through the rest of the season without having to do a procedure."
UP NEXT
Left-handers Tommy Milone of the Twins and Carlos Rodon of the White Sox face off in the series finale on Thursday. Milone (0-2, 5.33 ERA) is 4-1 with a 2.02 ERA in his career against the White Sox. Rodon (2-6, 4.09 ERA) is winless in his last five starts despite a 3.41 ERA for that stretch.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
