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Melky’s 3-hit day can’t rally White Sox in finale
- Updated: August 1, 2016
MINNEAPOLIS — With four errors, it wasn’t the Twins’ day, defensively. But they were able to overcome it, as right-hander Ervin Santana continued his impressive run with another strong start and was backed by two homers from Brian Dozier in a 6-4 win over the White Sox on Sunday at Target Field.
Santana went six innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Santana, who is a trade candidate for the Twins, has posted a 1.96 ERA over his last eight starts.
“We didn’t pick up our pitchers very well and made it tough on Ervin,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “He was only able to go six with his pitch count driven up by the errors. It’s not often you’re able to overcome that. Thankfully we got off to a good start.”
Santana outpitched White Sox lefty Carlos Rodon, who went 6 1/3 innings, surrendering five runs on eight hits and two walks. The Twins jumped out to an early three-run lead in the first, keyed by a two-run homer from Kennys Vargas.
“Felt good,” Rodon said. “I just have to be better.”
“They jumped on him pretty good there early,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “They jumped on him and he battled back and velocity-wise I think he started getting a little stronger as the game went on.”
• Dozier prophetic with 2-HR day as DH
Dozier gave the Twins some breathing room with a solo blast off Rodon in the fifth before adding another solo shot in the seventh off Carson Fulmer. It was Dozier’s fourth career multi-homer game, and his third against Chicago.
• Frustrated Rodon seeks consistent execution
The White Sox threatened in the eighth, scoring a run on Minnesota’s fourth error of the game. But with the bases loaded and two outs, reliever Michael Tonkin was able to get Carlos Sanchez to ground out to first to end the inning. Ryan Pressly tossed a scoreless ninth for the Twins to get his first career save, striking out former Twins first baseman Justin Morneau with a runner at third to end the game.
“It was fun,” Pressly said. “I was just trying to get ahead of him and trying to get him [to] chase, and that’s what I did.”
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDVargas baby, Vargas: The Twins jumped out to a three-run lead in the …
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