Minnesota ended their five-game skid Monday night with a 9-6 victory over Chicago, powered by Tristan Gray’s grand slam that drove in five runs total during the contest in Minneapolis.
Josh Bell contributed with a 2-for-4 performance that included a double for the Twins, while Trevor Larnach went 2-for-3 and knocked in one run.
Chicago’s offense was led by Miguel Vargas, who recorded three hits in five at-bats with a pair of home runs and four RBIs. Andrew Benintendi added two hits in four trips to the plate, including a homer and two RBIs for the White Sox, whose five-game winning streak came to an end.
Minnesota’s starting pitcher Joe Ryan (4-3) allowed four runs on eight hits across six innings of work. He issued no walks while recording nine strikeouts.
Chicago starter David Sandlin (1-1) was charged with eight runs on eight hits in four-plus innings. He walked four batters and struck out four.
Minnesota took an early 1-0 advantage in the opening frame when Larnach drove in a run with a single to center field.
Chicago tied the game 1-1 in the third inning. Sam Antonacci reached second base with a double to right field, moved to third on a fly ball, then came home on Benintendi’s two-out single to right.
Gray’s grand slam in the fourth inning put Minnesota ahead to stay. His blast sailed over the right-center field wall for his second grand slam this season, tying him for the major league lead.
Chicago narrowed the gap to 5-4 in the fifth frame. Vargas connected for a two-run homer, followed immediately by Benintendi’s solo shot.
The Twins responded with a four-run rally to extend their lead to 9-4. Minnesota loaded the bases without recording an out on a pair of walks surrounding a single, prompting Chicago to remove Sandlin from the mound.
Relief pitcher Tyler Davis entered for Chicago but struggled as well. He surrendered consecutive RBI singles to Austin Martin and Victor Caratini for the first two runs of the inning, then allowed sacrifice flies to Luke Keaschall and Gray in the following two at-bats.
Vargas pulled Chicago within 9-6 with another two-run home run in the ninth inning, his second homer of the contest and 15th this season.
