Milone, Twins suffer setback against rival White Sox
CHICAGO -- Tommy Milone had been dominant against the Chicago White Sox this season.
That ended in the fourth inning Saturday night.
Adam Eaton had three hits, Carlos Sanchez hit a two-run double and the White Sox used a seven-run fourth to beat the Minnesota Twins 8-2.
Trevor Plouffe had two hits and a RBI for the Twins, who remained one game behind the Rangers in the race for the second AL wild card. Texas lost 5-3 to Oakland.
"We didn't do a lot of things very well," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "We didn't run the bases very well. We didn't defend very well. We didn't pitch particularly well. (We) just kind of have to accept that, and in Tommy's case, just try to regroup and come back and have a better start next time."
Jose Quintana (9-10) settled in after allowing two runs in the first. He threw five scoreless innings after that and has allowed two runs in 13 innings over his last two starts.
The White Sox finished with 15 hits and have won six of nine.
Milone (8-5) gave up seven runs -- four earned -- and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings, his second-shortest start of the season. He entered 3-0 with a 0.87 ERA in three starts versus the White Sox this year. The left-hander is 4-1 with a 1.84 ERA in eight career starts against Chicago.
"The second time through the lineup, they got a lot more aggressive," Milone said. "Just pitches over the middle of the plate, them being aggressive, a combination -- it didn't end up very well."
Aaron Hicks scored on a passed ball in the first inning to give the Twins the lead after he drew a walk, stole second and advanced on first baseman Jose Abreu's error. Plouffe singled to drive in another run.
Chicago's seven runs in the fourth matched a season high and were the most the Twins have allowed in an inning this season.
The White Sox sent 11 batters to the plate and Trayce Thompson had two of their six hits while the Twins committed two errors in the inning.
"They made a couple of mistakes there, and we capitalized on them," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "It's a nice inning, to see them continue to -- at-bat after at-bat -- put the ball in play and get something out of it."
Thompson led off with a double and scored on Alexei Ramirez's single. After Plouffe committed a throwing error at third base on Geovany Soto's bunt, Sanchez hit a two-run double for a 3-2 Chicago lead. Eaton followed with a RBI single, Melky Cabrera had a sacrifice fly and Thompson hit a RBI single. The final run scored on reliever Blaine Boyer's throwing error to third base on a pickoff attempt.
Boyer said the play was intended to eventually catch the runner at first trying to steal.
"Poor execution on me," he said.
The Twins loaded the bases in the eighth before Zach Duke got an inning-ending double play.
J.B. Shuck hit a RBI double in the bottom half.
"Crazy things happen in baseball," Boyer said of the sloppy play. "It's a good thing it's uncharacteristic of this team."
SCHOOL SPIRIT
Right fielder Torii Hunter cheered as he watched the Notre Dame-Virginia football game in the Twins clubhouse before the game. His son, Torii Jr., is a receiver for the Fighting Irish.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: All-Star closer Glen Perkins played catch from about 90 feet, the first time he threw a baseball since he injured his back on Sept. 1. The Twins will see how he responds, but they hope he can pitch from a mound soon. "(If) he comes back and he's healthy, we'll find a way to have him contribute," manager Paul Molitor said.
White Sox: RF Avisail Garcia left after two innings due to back spasms. Thompson moved to right field, and Shuck replaced Thompson in left. Ventura said Garcia will likely sit out a couple of days.
UP NEXT
RHP Kyle Gibson (9-10, 3.87 ERA) will start for the Twins against White Sox LHP Chris Sale (12-8, 3.31) in the series finale Sunday.
