CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox fell 8-1 on Sunday to the Minnesota Twins to drop their second consecutive home series.
How it happened: White Sox starter Jose Quintana gave up a home run to the Twins’ Brian Dozier two pitches into the game and Minnesota was off and running. Quintana gave up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits over six innings. Jose Abreu hit a fourth-inning home run for the White Sox’s only offense. The Abreu home run ended a 14-inning scoreless streak for Twins starter Kyle Gibson against the White Sox.
What it means: Just when it looked like the White Sox had gotten their act together on the last road trip, they returned home against division foes Cleveland and Minnesota, and went 2-5. The White Sox are just 12-19 against the American League Central this season, and that’s from a team that has finished below .500 in the division five of the last six years. The White Sox opened this season with 17 consecutive AL Central games and 24 of their first 25 in the division.
Outside the box: Abreu’s home run, the opposite way to right field, was his seventh on the season. But it was just Abreu’s second home run in the month of May and his first since May 9 against the Cincinnati Reds. Abreu entered the game just 5-for-33 (.152) against the Twins this season, and none of those hits had been for extra bases.
Off beat: On another rough day for the White Sox, the defining moment probably happened when Adam Eaton ran right past a line drive to center field. Eaton was charging the liner from Joe Mauer in the fourth inning when the ball appeared to dip under Eaton’s glove. Shane Robinson scored on the play and the Twins went on to a four-run inning to take control of the game. Eaton was charged with an error.
Up next: The White Sox will send right-hander Hector Noesi (0-3, 5.60 ERA) to the mound at Toronto on Monday in the opener of a three-game series and 11-game road trip. The Blue Jays will counter with right-hander Drew Hutchinson (3-1, 6.06) in the 6:07 p.m. CST start from Rogers Centre.
