SportsDirect Inc. Ad
SportsDirect Inc. Ad
SportsDirect Inc. Ad
Major League Baseball
Chi. White Sox 6, Minnesota 4
When: 1:10 PM ET, Thursday, September 3, 2015
Where: Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Temperature: 77°
Umpires: Home - Dan Iassogna, 1B - Dale Scott, 2B - CB Bucknor, 3B - Lance Barrett
Attendance: 25339

MINNEAPOLIS -- Chicago White Sox utility man J.B. Shuck has a well-earned reputation in his clubhouse as the most reliable bench bat in manager Robin Ventura's arsenal.

Ventura deployed Shuck as a pinch hitter at a critical time on Thursday and he came through in a big way.

His two-run triple in the top of the seventh inning was the difference as the White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4 at Target Field.

"He's been big for us all year," Ventura said. "Being able to come in and get some good pinch hits, it just seemed like the right time to do it with him."

Twins reliever Casey Fien gave up a leadoff single to shortstop Alexei Ramirez and then walked catcher Geovany Soto. Second baseman Carlos Sanchez sacrificed both runners into scoring position, setting up Shuck's heroics.

With the count 1-1, Shuck drove Fien's changeup into the left-center field gap, scoring both runners and giving the Sox a 5-4 lead.

The next batter, center fielder Adam Eaton, drove in Shuck with a sacrifice fly to deep left, giving the White Sox a two-run lead.

"In that situation, you're just trying to get something up to drive into the outfield," Shuck said. "I was fortunate enough to get something over the plate, get barrel to it and hit it where they weren't."

White Sox pitcher Jeff Samardzija (9-11) picked up the win, allowing four runs, five hits and four walks in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander struggled early. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning by getting right fielder Eddie Rosario to fly out to left field.

Samardzija wasn't so lucky the second time around.

With the bases full and two outs in the third, Rosario hammered a 1-0 fastball into the second deck in right field for his first career grand slam, giving the Twins a 4-1 lead.

Samardzija settled down after that, retiring 11 of the final 14 batters he faced and giving up just two singles in the remainder of his outing. He improved to 3-0 in five games against the Twins this season.

"Obviously, (the grand slam) is not what you want next to your name, but the best thing you can do is just move forward," Samardzija said. "You approach every (inning) like a new game and let the chips fall where they may. You keep pitching and good things will happen."

Right-hander Nate Jones pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief before handing off to closer David Robertson, who worked a scoreless ninth for his 28th save of the season.

Fien (4-6) was charged with the loss. He allowed three runs, two hits and a walk in a third of an inning. The White Sox hammered Fien for five runs and three hits in one inning of two appearances during the series.

"They just got me," Fien said. "I'm thankful (Sanchez) bunted. I don't even know if I could get an out today."

Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson had been in line for a victory, having allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. He struck out four.

"I felt pretty comfortable with all four pitches today," Gibson said. "That was probably a little different than the last couple of outings."

Chicago scored once in the first off Gibson, getting a single from Eaton and a double from first baseman Jose Abreu. Right fielder Avisail Garcia's sacrifice fly was his first of two RBIs on the day.

Rosario's blast gave Minnesota a brief lead in the third, but the White Sox began chipping away in the fourth when designated hitter Adam LaRoche singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch then scored on a single by Ramirez.

Another sacrifice fly by Garcia in the sixth drove in Abreu to cut the deficit to 4-3.

"Samardzija has had some similar games against us where we've been able to put up a number on him early the in the game," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "He buckles up and finds a way to get deep in the game."

Abreu finished with three hits and a walk. Garcia was 0-for-2 but drove in two runs, walked once and stole a base.

Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar had two hits and scored a run in his 12th consecutive game, tying the third-longest streak in franchise history.

NOTES: White Sox RHP Erik Johnson will start against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. Johnson, who was recalled as part of September roster expansions Tuesday, was the International League's Pitcher of the Year with a record of 11-8 and a 2.37 ERA in 22 starts with Triple-A Charlotte. ... Twins DH Miguel Sano was not in the lineup as he rests a sore right hamstring. Sano is hitting .296 with 15 homers and 42 RBIs in 51 games. ... Twins LHP Glen Perkins will not accompany the team on its upcoming trip to Houston because of back spasms. ... Twins RHP Phil Hughes threw a bullpen session on Thursday without any issues. Hughes, who has been on the 15-day disabled list with a sore back, will throw again on Sunday before playing in a simulated game next week. ... The White Sox head to Kansas City to open a three-game series with the Royals on Friday at Kaufman Stadium. ... The Twins open a nine-game road trip with a three-game series against the Houston Astros beginning Friday at Minute Maid Park.
Top Game Performances
Starting Pitchers
Chi. White Sox   Minnesota
Jeff Samardzija Player Kyle Gibson
Win W/L No Decision
6.1 IP 6.0
4 Strikeouts 4
5 Hits 5
5.68 ERA 4.50
Hitting
Chi. White Sox   Minnesota
Jose Abreu Player Eduardo Escobar
3 Hits 2
0 RBI 0
0 HR 0
5 TB 2
.750 Avg .400
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Hits HR TB Avg LOB K RBI BB SB Errors
Chi. White Sox 10 0 14 .312 16 5 6 5 1 1
Minnesota 7 1 10 .200 14 8 4 4 0 0