Original source (on modern site)
Box Score
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
White Sox Make Noise First
During the bottom half, with the Twins sending Bailey Ober to the bump, it was another former Minnesota player, Robbie Grossman, starting the game with a leadoff double. Tommy Pham, making another start for his new team, followed with a double of his own to put Chicago on the board. After Ober got Gavin Sheets on a groundout, Andrew Vaughn singled home Pham, making it a 2-0 game with just one out recorded. Edouard Julien made a nice defensive play to kick off an inning-ending double play, but the Twins had work to do early.
Byron Buxton, Hurt, Again
After singling off Chris Flexen, a pitcher whom he has owned for some time, Buxton made two steal attempts with Trevor Larnach at the plate. On a third, following a strikeout of the batter, Buxton pulled up going to second and was thrown out by multiple feet. He gingerly walked off the field and was met by head trainer Nick Paparesta. Starting the bottom of the 2nd inning, José Miranda came in at the hot corner, with Willi Castro replacing the center fielder. If there was any hope that it was a soft tissue injury or something less ominous, that was dashed when the Twins announced Buxton left the game with right knee soreness. That's the same knee on which he had what was deemed a successful surgery to alleviate pain this offseason.
Ober turned the corner in the second inning by sandwiching strikeouts of Danny Mendick and Paul DeJong around an exceptional diving stop and throw from Miranda. Having just entered the game, the ball quickly found Miranda, whose role only seems to be growing. Although the Twins needed to challenge the call, his defensive highlight was rewarded with a correct out call.
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Twins Break Through
Unfortunately for Minnesota, their run was immediately met by a response from Pham. His second hit of the day left the yard, and the solo shot made it a 3-1 lead. He has hit the ball hard against the Twins since stepping into this series and quickly has emerged as the lone Chicago hitter to fear throughout their lineup.
After a diving catch in the field to rob Mendick of a base hit and end the 4th inning, Alex Kirilloff came up in the 5th inning with his sights set on drawing closer. He was among Rocco Baldelli's best hitters during April, and on May Day, sent a bomb over the left field fence to bring the Twins back within one.
Always An Answer
Wilson quickly got Correa on a groundout, and then walked Kepler. Miranda lined a ball to left field for an out, but then Wilson walked Larnach and Carlos Santana to load the bases with two outs. Dominic Leone got hot in a hurry for Chicago, and it was his presence being summoned to face Castro and avoid major damage. He proceeded to throw three straight balls to Castro before flipping over a middle-middle fastball. Rolling over a changeup to shortstop DeJong, the White Sox infielder booted it allowing both Kepler and Larnach to score and tie the game.
Once again, Minnesota had new life. At just over 70 pitches entering the bottom of the 6th inning, Ober was back out for another frame. He got the White Sox in order and gave Baldelli a quick inning in the process.
Kepler Comes Up Clutch
Brock Stewart came on in relief for Ober, and for a guy who hasn't given up a run in eons, it was a shock to see White Sox catcher Korey Lee take him deep. It was a wind-aided home run, but it brought Chicago back within one at 6-5. He bounced back and closed out the 7th inning before turning the ball over to Griffin Jax in the 8th inning. Before the Twins took the field again, Castro grabbed his second extra-base hit of the game, this time a double, but he was called out trying to swipe third.
Unlikely that Jhoan Duran would be available for a 9th inning save having not worked in back-to-back games yet this year, Minnesota made sure to take some pressure off the bullpen. Facing a menagerie of Chicago relievers, Miranda doubled home Kyle Farmer to make it a 7-5 game before Ryan Jeffers followed with a double to score Correa and Miranda. Not to leave Jeffers standing on the pond, Castro brought him home with a single and his third hit of the game. The Twins scored six runs today after the start of the 7th inning, and that pushed their season total in that spot to a big league-best 1st place.
Steven Okert was given a five-run cushion to work with in the 9th inning and secure the victory. He made quick work of the Pale Hose 5-6-7 hitters and wrapped up a 10th straight for the Twins. Minnesota drew eight walks on the day, and while they didn't get to Flexen early, the bats came alive late.
Notes
Needing innings with a taxed bullpen and a handful of games in a row to their credit, Minnesota swapped in Caleb Boushley for Kody Funderburk. He wasn't on the 40-man, but a spot was open following Matt Bowman's DFA on Tuesday. Having pitched in one game for the Brewers last year, he has just 2 1/3 innings of big-league experience. At Triple-A for the Saints this season though, he owns a 30/4 K/BB.
What's Next?
The big question will be what happens with Buxton, and if he'll need a stint on the injured list. Assuming that's the case, no move would need to be announced until the Twins return to action on Friday. However, Austin Martin being held out of Saints action Wednesday and Thursday would give an early indication.
Postgame Interviews
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet
SP: Bailey Ober 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (82 pitches, 58 strikes 7 whiffs)
Home Runs: Alex Kirilloff (2)
Top 3 WPA: Willi Castro (.326), José Miranda (.157), Max Kepler (.156)
The Minnesota Twins stepped up to the plate first as the away team, but their bats didn't make any noise during the first inning. Instead, former Minnesota backstop Drew Butera (now a coach for the White Sox) got the heave-ho from home plate umpire James Hoye. There wasn't much to complain about in an otherwise uneventful half-inning, but Butera found a way to get into the box score.
This season the Twins have benefitted by having their star center fielder play in 28 of their first 30 games. He has routinely been available in the outfield, and while his process has been a bit amiss at the plate, he has found a way to make a significant contribution in the form of an early 0.6 fWAR.
Needing some good vibes to get his team going, Castro led off against Flexen with a triple--his second of the year, and second in as many games, Minnesota had their first run just 90 feet away. A Christian Vazquez ground out brought him in and halved the White Sox lead at 2-1.
Chicago got ahead early, but the Twins and White Sox continued to respond to one another throughout the matinee affair. After Kirilloff's home run brought Minnesota back within one, it was Chicago's turn to provide distance again. After DeJong reached on an infield single to Carlos Correa, Grossman recorded his second double of the game and brought the run home. Pedro Grifol's club had again extended their lead, 4-2, and he turned the ball over to reliever Steven Wilson for the 6th inning.
Having driven in the go-ahead runs each of the past two games, Kepler stepped in with an opportunity to do it again. Following a few more Leone walks, Minnesota had Kirilloff at second base with Correa at first. Facing Tim Hill, who he doubled off of last week, Kepler singled to right field and brought home Kirilloff to grab the Twins first lead. Miranda, who came on early after the Buxton injury, picked up his second base hit of the ballgame with Correa scoring a run to make it 6-4.
Wednesday it happened. Comcast pulled the plug on Bally Sports which prompted a message for the vast majority of Twins cable consumers. This also impacts something like 15 other teams, and is an absolute mess for the sport.
A much-deserved off day is on tap as the Twins return home for a weekend series with the Boston Red Sox. The probable pitchers for Minnesota are Chris Paddack, Pablo Lopez, and Joe Ryan. Boston has yet to set their starter for the three-game set.