White Sox Hold Off Twins 3-2 Behind Benintendi's Big Day

By Troy Geary

Geary Sports & Entertainment Network 

The Disability Channel 

MINNEAPOLIS :

The Chicago White Sox found just enough offense and got a strong performance from their pitching staff as they held off the Minnesota Twins 3-2 Saturday afternoon at Target Field.

The White Sox improved to 72-63 on the season, while the Twins dropped to 64-72.

Andrew Benintendi was the difference offensively for Chicago, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. His performance provided the White Sox with the timely hitting they needed in a game where both teams struggled to generate consistent offense.
Chicago struck first in the opening inning, but Minnesota answered immediately to make it 1-1.

The Twins then took a 2-1 lead in the second inning, but the White Sox continued to battle and eventually regained the advantage. Benintendi came through with an RBI double in the fourth inning to tie the game at 2-2. Then, in the sixth inning, Benintendi delivered again.

With the game tied, Benintendi launched his 14th home run of the season, giving Chicago a 3-2 lead. The White Sox would not give it back.
The Twins had opportunities throughout the afternoon but couldn't come up with the big hit when they needed it.

Minnesota finished with five hits and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Twins also left five runners on base. Josh Bell drove in a run and finished 1-for-3. Walker Jenkins also collected a hit and an RBI, while Luke Keaschall reached base twice and doubled.

Ryan Jeffers, who entered as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning, was unable to extend the game.

For Chicago, Benintendi's three-hit performance accounted for all of the team's biggest offensive moments. The White Sox finished with just three hits but made them count.

Erick Fedde earned the victory, improving to 7-8 with a 4.16 ERA. Fedde and the White Sox pitching staff kept Minnesota from putting together a big inning. Andrew Morris took the loss for the Twins, falling to 4-7 with a 3.82 ERA.

Bryan Hudson closed the door in the ninth inning to earn his seventh save of the season.

The loss is another frustrating one for Minnesota, which managed five hits but couldn't capitalize on its opportunities. The Twins' inability to convert with runners in scoring position ultimately proved costly in a one-run game.

Chicago has now taken the first two games of the series and continues to strengthen its position atop the American League Central.

For the Twins, Sunday’s series finale becomes an important opportunity to avoid being swept at home and finish the weekend on a positive note.

By Troy Geary

Geary Sports & Entertainment Network 

The Disability Channel 

MINNEAPOLIS :

The Minnesota Twins battled back from an early deficit and even tied the game, but the Chicago White Sox had the final answer.

The White Sox defeated the Twins 7-4 Friday night at Target Field, improving to 71-63 on the season. Minnesota fell to 64-71. Chicago wasted little time getting on the scoreboard.

The White Sox scored four times in the first inning against Twins starter Dean Kremer. Andrew Benintendi drove in a pair of runs before Colson Montgomery followed with a three-run home run, his 28th of the season, giving Chicago an early 4-0 advantage.

Minnesota answered immediately. Brooks Lee hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, his 22nd of the season, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Kody Clemens then followed with a solo home run, also his 22nd of the season, making it a one-run game after one inning.

The Twins tied the game in the second when Lee came through again, this time with an RBI single to make it 4-4. From there, however, Chicago's pitching settled in while the White Sox offense continued to add on.

The White Sox regained the lead in the third inning and added another run in the fourth. Chicago tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning to make it 7-4. Minnesota finished with 12 hits but struggled to come through in the biggest moments. The Twins went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base.

Lee had one of his better offensive nights, going 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored. Keaschall also went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Clemens finished 2-for-4 with his solo homer and a run. Trevor Larnach went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Josh Bell added a hit. Ryan Jeffers went hitless in five at-bats and struck out twice. Royce Lewis also went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Walker Jenkins, making his Major League debut, collected his first career hit. The highly touted prospect finished 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.

For Chicago, Montgomery finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Benintendi went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas each collected two hits.
Grant Taylor earned the victory, improving to 7-2 with a 2.03 ERA. Taylor helped settle the game down for Chicago after the Twins' four-run comeback. Bryan Hudson closed things out for the White Sox, earning his sixth save of the season.

Kremer was charged with the loss, falling to 2-5 on the season. His ERA moved to 5.60. The loss was another frustrating night for a Twins team that continues to fight to stay in the postseason picture.

Minnesota showed plenty of fight after falling behind 4-0, answering with four runs of its own. But after tying the game, the offense couldn't deliver another big hit when opportunities presented themselves. The Twins and White Sox continue their series Saturday at Target Field.

For Minnesota, the message remains simple: with the season entering its final stretch, every game matters, and missed opportunities like Friday night could become increasingly costly.

By Troy Geary 

Geary Sports & Entertainment Network 

The Disability Channel 

MINNEAPOLIS:

The Minnesota Twins continued their push down the stretch Tuesday night, getting timely hitting and another strong performance from their pitching staff in a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Target Field.

The Twins wasted little time getting on the scoreboard.

Josh Bell launched a two-run home run in the first inning, giving Minnesota an early 2-0 lead and putting the Braves in an early hole.

That lead would hold for most of the night as Zebby Matthews kept Atlanta’s lineup under control.

Matthews worked 5.2 innings, allowing five hits and one run. He walked one and struck out four while giving the Twins another solid start when they needed it most.

The Braves finally broke through in the sixth inning when Drake Baldwin hit a solo home run, cutting Minnesota’s lead to 2-1.

Matthews limited the damage and departed with the Twins still in front.

From there, Minnesota’s bullpen took over.

Kody Funderburk recorded the final out of the sixth inning before Andrew Morris worked a scoreless seventh, striking out one. A.J. Minter followed with a scoreless eighth inning.

The Twins then gave themselves some breathing room.

Ryan Jeffers delivered the big insurance hit with a two-run double, extending Minnesota’s lead to 4-1 and giving the Twins’ pitching staff some much-needed cushion heading into the final inning.

Yoendrys Gómez took care of the Braves in the ninth, allowing one hit and striking out one to earn his 19th save of the season.

Minnesota’s pitching staff held Atlanta to just six hits and one run while striking out seven and walking only one.

Offensively, the Twins collected 10 hits, with Bell’s two-run homer and Jeffers’ two-run double providing all four of Minnesota’s runs.

The Braves had opportunities but couldn’t capitalize, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and leaving six runners on base.

Drake Baldwin finished 2-for-4 with the home run and Atlanta’s only RBI, while Michael Harris II collected three hits.

Tyler Mahle took the loss for Atlanta after allowing four runs on 10 hits.

For the Twins, it was another example of the formula they need as the playoff race continues to tighten.

Get the big hit when the opportunity comes.

Get quality innings from the starter.

Then turn the game over to the bullpen.

Tuesday night, Minnesota did exactly that.

Bell’s early home run gave the Twins the lead, Jeffers’ double provided the insurance, and Matthews and the bullpen made sure Atlanta never got back into the game.

The Twins have now won the first two games of the series and will look to finish off the Braves and complete the sweep Wednesday afternoon at Target Field in the series finale.

By Troy Geary 

Geary Sports & Entertainment Network

The Disability Channel 

MINNEAPOLIS:

After a tough weekend against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Minnesota Twins needed a response.

They got one Monday night.

The Twins jumped out to a four-run lead in the first inning and held on late, defeating the Atlanta Braves 4-2 at Target Field. Minnesota improved to 61-65 on the season and snapped a three-game losing streak.

Minnesota wasted little time getting its offense going against Braves starter Martín Pérez.

Luke Keaschall started the first inning with a double, and after Byron Buxton reached on a walk, Ryan Jeffers also worked a walk to load the bases. Josh Bell then delivered the biggest hit of the inning, driving in two runs with a double.

Royce Lewis followed with an RBI single, and Kody Clemens added another RBI single as the Twins quickly built a 4-0 advantage.

Bell finished the night 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk, while Keaschall went 2-for-4 and Clemens collected two hits and an RBI. Lewis also added an RBI for a Twins offense that finished with 10 hits.

The Braves answered in the fifth inning.

Ronald Acuña Jr. delivered a two-run double, cutting Minnesota's lead in half and putting pressure back on the Twins. But Minnesota's pitching staff responded by keeping Atlanta off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

Bailey Ober got the start for Minnesota and battled through 4⅓ innings. He allowed six hits and two runs while striking out four and walking one. Ober wasn't at his best, but he helped keep the Twins in front before turning the game over to the bullpen.

The bullpen did the rest.

Taylor Rogers recorded two outs in the fifth before Travis Adams took over. Adams was outstanding, throwing two scoreless innings while striking out three. Jeff Hoffman followed with a scoreless eighth, and Yoendrys Gómez closed the door in the ninth for his 18th save of the season.

Atlanta managed just seven hits and went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. The Braves also left 11 runners on base, giving Minnesota's pitching staff plenty of opportunities to escape trouble.

For the Twins, this was more than just another win in August.

After being swept by Philadelphia over the weekend, Minnesota entered Monday just 1½ games out of the final American League Wild Card spot. The Twins now have a chance to build some momentum against an Atlanta team that entered the series with one of the better records in the National League.

The Twins didn't need a perfect performance.

They needed a response.

They got four runs early, received enough from Ober, and watched their bullpen shut the door.

Now, Minnesota has an opportunity to turn one win into something more as this three-game series continues.

The season is far from over.

And Monday night, the Twins reminded everyone of that.