In a commanding performance, the Minnesota Twins secured a resounding 10-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox, backed by stellar contributions from Edouard Julien, Royce Lewis, and Kyle Farmer. Kenta Maeda’s impressive seven innings on the mound further solidified the Twins’ position atop the American League Central.
The American League Central-leading Twins (77-70) demonstrated their prowess by out-hitting the White Sox (56-91) 10-6, marking their second victory in five games. With this win, the Twins inched closer to clinching the division, lowering their magic number to eight.
Kenta Maeda (5-7) delivered a standout performance on the mound, allowing just two runs on four hits, including one extra-base hit, and issuing only one walk while recording eight strikeouts. Maeda’s precise pitching saw him throw 69 of his 105 pitches for strikes, reinforcing his crucial role in the victory. Josh Winder and Brent Headrick capped off the victory, each contributing one scoreless inning.
In the seventh inning, Andrew Vaughn provided the White Sox with a glimmer of hope by connecting for a two-run home run against Maeda, narrowing the deficit to 6-2. This homer marked Vaughn’s 20th of the season, extending his career high.
However, the Twins mounted an impressive four-run rally in the seventh inning against White Sox starter Jose Urena, significantly altering the game’s trajectory and expanding their lead to 6-0. Minnesota continued their offensive onslaught in the ninth inning, adding four more runs against the Chicago bullpen.
Jose Urena (0-6), whose contract was selected from Triple-A Charlotte just last week, faced a challenging outing as the Twins capitalized on his vulnerability. Urena initially retired the first nine batters he faced but found himself susceptible to the long ball in the fourth inning. Edouard Julien led off the inning with a solo shot to right-center field, followed by Royce Lewis’s solo homer to left, following successive strikeouts by Urena. In total, Urena allowed six runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, alongside eight strikeouts and no walks.
This victory solidified Minnesota’s dominance over Chicago, clinching the season series with their seventh win in 10 meetings. The Twins have now secured five consecutive victories against the White Sox, showcasing their command in head-to-head matchups.
Alex Kirilloff and Matt Wallner were pivotal offensive contributors for the Twins, each recording two hits and two RBIs.
Eloy Jimenez’s double was a notable highlight for the White Sox, although it was not enough to counter the Twins’ formidable performance.
