Randal Grichuk and Kyle Teel turned the eighth inning into a demolition derby, and the White Sox bullpen did the rest in a 10-1 win over the Twins on Sunday.
Chicago got five runs in that eighth, with Grichuk and Teel both going deep, while Sam Antonacci piled up three doubles and drove in two more. The result kept the White Sox 2 1/2 games ahead of Cleveland in the AL Central.
The pitching staff set the tone early and never let Minnesota settle in. Chicago opened with Bryan Hudson and then leaned on Jordan Hicks, Hagen Smith, Grant Taylor and Tyler Davis to finish off a four-hitter.
Together, the five pitchers struck out 15 and issued just one walk. Smith was especially sharp, working three hitless innings before Taylor gave up Brooks Lee’s leadoff homer in the seventh.
Lee also singled for Minnesota, which has now dropped three of four.
Bailey Ober took the loss for the Twins, his eighth straight start without a win. He lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, six strikeouts and three walks. Chicago broke through against him when Munetaka Murakami delivered an RBI single to put the Sox in front for good.
From there, the White Sox kept adding on. Antonacci followed with a two-run double in the sixth, and Grichuk added an RBI double. Miguel Vargas later worked a bases-loaded walk in the seventh, setting up the final burst.
That last blow came fast. Grichuk opened the eighth with his 12th homer, Tristan Peters followed with an RBI double, and Teel capped the inning with a three-run shot.
Minnesota’s next stop is Detroit for Monday afternoon’s series opener, though the Twins had not announced a starter. Right-hander Troy Melton (7-4, 2.20 ERA) is set to go for the Tigers.
Chicago gets Labor Day off before opening a three-game series Tuesday night at home against Pittsburgh. Sean Burke (8-6, 3.20 ERA) is lined up to face Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler (6-9, 4.30).
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