Twins Outlast White Sox, 7-6

By ESPN

Eduardo Escobar helped power Minnesota to a quick, commanding lead. Then it turned out the Twins needed every run -- and some pretty nifty bullpen work.

Escobar hit a three-run homer in the first then added a fourth RBI with a double as Minnesota outlasted the struggling Chicago White Sox 7-6 on Thursday night.

Brian Dozier and Miguel Sano crushed solo shots and Joe Mauer singled in a run for Minnesota, which hung on to deal the White Sox a season-high fifth straight loss after jumping out to a 6-0 advantage in the second inning.

"It was a good win because we had to fight all the way," said manager Paul Molitor, "and the bullpen did a pretty good job."

It looked like Minnesota might cruise to a victory in this one with resurgent starter Phil Hughes in charge and dealing early. The right-hander didn't give up a hit until Avisail Garcia doubled with one out in the fourth when the Twins scored twice.

But Chicago closed to 7-6, led by Melky Cabrera's three-run homer off Hughes in the fifth. Chicago's Matt Davidson drove in two runs, on a solo homer and a groundout.

Ryan Pressly (1-2), the third of five Twins relievers, pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the win.

Brandon Kintzler got the final five outs for his eighth save in nine chances. He struck out Omar Narvaez and Leury Garcia in the eighth with the tying run on third and go-ahead run on second.

"That was a big set up inning for us (by Pressly)," Molitor said. "And that's a big-league save."

Hughes fell short of a chance to earn his fifth win when he was replaced by Tyler Duffey with two outs in the fifth after allowing five runs and six hits.

"When you've got a big lead early and kind of flounder in the middle innings it's inexcusable," Hughes said. "You just can't let the wheels come off like that."

Chicago starter Derek Holland (3-3) permitted seven runs, but just three earned, and six hits in five innings in taking the loss. Four White Sox relievers followed with four hitless innings.

"It wasn't as deflating as it might have seemed because we kept fighting," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said.

Ditto from Holland, who, settled in after being hit hard in the first two innings.

"The offense came up big," Holland said. "We just obviously didn't get what we wanted in the final result, but that shows a lot heart from this team and what we're capable of."

Thursday, May 11 Scoreboard

Boston 4, Milwaukee 1

Kansas City 6, Tampa Bay 0

Houston 3, New York Yankees 2

Toronto 7, Seattle 2

Texas 5, San Diego 2

Minnesota 7, Chicago White Sox 6

Colorado 10, Los Angeles Dodgers 7

Arizona 2, Pittsburgh 1

Detroit 7, Los Angeles Angels 1

Cincinnati 3, San Francisco 2

Friday, May 12 Schedule (All Times Central)

Houston at New York Yankees, 6:05 p.m.

Philadelphia at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

Seattle at Toronto, 6:07 p.m.

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

Minnesota at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Oakland at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

San Diego at Chicago White Sox, 7:10 p.m.

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

Baltimore at Kansas City, 7:15 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Arizona, 8:40 p.m.

Detroit at Los Angeles Angels, 9:07 p.m.

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

Saturday, May 13 Schedule (All Times Central)

Houston at New York Yankees, 12:05 p.m.

Seattle at Toronto, 12:07 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 3:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland, 3:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

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

San Diego at Chicago White Sox, 6:10 p.m.

New York Mets at Milwaukee, 6:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Baltimore at Kansas City, 6:15 p.m.

Oakland at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado, 7:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Arizona, 7:10 p.m.

Detroit at Los Angeles Angels, 8:07 p.m.

Sunday, May 14 Schedule (All Times Central)

Seattle at Toronto, 12:07 p.m.

Minnesota at Cleveland, 12:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Miami, 12:10 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Boston, 12:35 p.m.

Philadelphia at Washington, 12:35 p.m.

San Diego at Chicago White Sox, 1:10 p.m.

New York Mets at Milwaukee, 1:10 p.m.

Baltimore at Kansas City, 1:15 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 1:15 p.m.

Oakland at Texas, 2;05 p.m.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado, 2:10 p.m.

Detroit at Los Angeles Angels, 2:37 p.m.

Cincinnati at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Arizona, 3:10 p.m.

Houston at New York Yankees, 6:30 p.m.