Following Monday's shutout loss where the Minnesota Twins compiled just two hits against the Chicago White Sox, the Twins once again looked like they were in for another long night offensively after five scoreless innings to start Tuesday night's game at Rate Field in Chicago.
It wasn't until the top of the 6th that the Twins began their push past the White Sox. With two outs, both Byron Buxton and Trevor Larnach drew walks leading to a White Sox pitching change. A Ryan Jeffers line drive single to right field off Penn Murfee pushed Buxton across the plate giving the Twins their first run since Sunday's 9-2 loss at St. Louis.
A Ty France RBI single cut the White Sox lead to 3-2. Edouard Julien singled on a line drive scoring Jeffers to tie the game at 3, with the Twins taking a 5-3 lead just moments later thanks to a two-run single off Jose Miranda's soft fly ball to right field.
The White Sox were unable to respond in the following innings while the Twins got a three-run boost off a ninth-inning home run from pinch-hitter Harrison Bader.
Danny Coulombe pitched the bottom of the ninth for the Twins with the White Sox lining out, grounding out, and lining out once again to end the game.
"We had some really competitive at-bats where we just kind of found ways to put the ball in play," said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. "We did use the whole field a little bit and we sprinkled in some hard hit-balls, too."
After going scoreless the night before, and through 5 2/3 innings Tuesday night, Baldelli said the 6th inning was a welcomed sight.
"It was nice to see us clump it together, compete in that inning, pour it on a little bit, and get a little momentum. The dugout really lit up and the guys are going to find how to have really good time when they start running around the bases like that. It gets pretty lively in there."
Simeon Woods Richardson allowed 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk and struck out 5 batters through 4 innings of work. Louis Varland got his first win of the year allowing 1 run on 1 hit and striking out 2 in a single inning of work.
"It was a cold one and I feel like nobody wants to play in that weather," Woods Richardson said. "We have to go out there grind at-bats and take pitches. The guys on the other end were doing the same thing. It's just one of those competitive games where you have to go out there and compete."
Twins and White Sox are scheduled to play again Wednesday with a 12:30 pregame on WCCO Radio. Weather could be a factor in Chicago.
As for the Twins home opener, that's set for Thursday against Houston.
WCCO Radio will have all-day coverage from Target Field leading up to the 2:30 pregame and 3:10 first pitch.
