Bryant's Homers Guide Cubs To Win, Twins Bounce White Sox

So much for that little slump for Kris Bryant. One big swing against Clayton Kershaw's vaunted curveball was enough to get the rookie back on track.

Bryant connected twice for his first career multihomer game, and the Chicago Cubs beat Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Monday night.

"He's been struggling a bit lately, KB has," manager Joe Maddon said, "and I just love the fact that he continues to battle."

Bryant had just one hit in his previous 18 at-bats before he drove a 1-2 curveball from Kershaw over the wall in right for a two-run homer in the third. His two-out drive on an elevated fastball from Adam Liberatore in the eighth was his 10th of the season and led to a curtain call for the slugger.

"It's a game of peaks and valleys, and I was in a valley," Bryant said. "I just went into the game telling myself I'm due, I'm due for a big game, and I got it."

Matt Szczur also had a solo shot against Kershaw as Chicago (38-30) moved eight games over .500 for the first time since it was 82-74 in 2009, according to STATS. It was the first homer of the season for Szczur, who was promoted from Triple-A Iowa before the game for his fourth major league stint of the year.

 Twins 13, White Sox 2

With ballyhooed rookie Byron Buxton at the top of their lineup, the Minnesota Twins have been unbeatable. Well, at least for his first time batting first, when the offense couldn't have been much better.

Kennys Vargas went 4 for 4 with a three-run homer and four RBI, Buxton had three hits as the leadoff man Monday night and the Twins trounced the Chicago White Sox 13-2.

"It's got to feel good for him," said manager Paul Molitor, who didn't commit to keeping Buxton in the top spot.

Joe Mauer homered to start a five-run fourth against John Danks (3-8), and Eduardo Nunez punctuated that inning with a two-out, two-run shot. The rally was fueled by a throwing error on shortstop Alexei Ramirez, whose attempt to start a double play sailed into right field.

Brian Dozier added a two-run homer in the eighth for the Twins, who are 8-3 against the White Sox this season while outscoring them 70-28.

Monday, June 22 Scoreboard

Philadelphia 11, New York Yankees 8

Detroit 8, Cleveland 5

Toronto 8, Tampa Bay 5

Minnesota 13, Chicago White Sox 2

Chicago Cubs 4, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

Los Angeles Angels 4, Houston 3

Kansas City 4, Seattle 1

Tuesday, June 23 Schedule (All Times Central)

Philadelphia at New York, 6:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Baltimore at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

Detroit at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Toronto at Tampa Bay, 6:10 p.m.

Oakland at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

Los Angeles at Chicago, 7:05 p.m.

New York at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m.

Chicago at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.

Arizona at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

Houston at Los Angeles, 9:05 p.m.

Kansas City at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.

San Diego at San Francisco, 9:15 p.m.