Box Score
SP: Bailey Ober 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (69 pitches, 46 strikes (66.7%)
Home Runs: Royce Lewis (10)
Bottom 3 WPA: Justin Topa (-0.449), Bailey Ober (-0.209), James Outman (-0.106)
Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)
The last time the Minnesota Twins faced the Chicago White Sox, the result was a series loss that felt a lot like rock bottom. Coming off a series win against the likely playoff-bound San Diego Padres, the Twins will look to handle the South Siders better this week at home. To do so, they’ll need to keep some of the White Sox’s young bats at bay.
White Sox Jump On Ober
So much for that. Colson Montgomery has been a problem for much of Major League Baseball, but a downright terror to the Twins. Montgomery only hits home runs when he faces the Twins, and he did so again in the second inning of Monday’s Labor Day matchup. Bailey Ober’s slider for the third pitch of the at-bat turned into Montgomery’s 16th home run, and fourth in his four games against Minnesota so far.
After a Curtis Mead single and an Andrew Benintendi strikeout, Chase Meidroth would also hit a home run, to left-center field. Meidroth also jumped on an offspeed pitch, this time a curveball, and put the White Sox up 3-0 quickly.
Twins Score, But Leave Runners Hanging
It should have been good news for Twins batters that the White Sox would be throwing a bullpen game Monday afternoon. Early on, the Twins were unable to capitalize as they had hoped. In the bottom of the second inning, however, they put together a two-out rally. The trouble began with an error by Curtis Mead on a Royce Lewis groundball and was followed by walks to both Edouard Julien and James Outman to bring Byron Buxton to the plate.
Buxton was certainly looking to tear the game open, but with newly inserted Wikelman Gonzalez on the mound, he was patient. He walked, to score the Twins’ first run and narrow the deficit to 3-1. Ryan Jeffers was next up, but would leave the bases full by striking out to end the inning.
In the third inning, both Luke Keaschall and Trevor Larnach would reach base on singles with one out. Neither Brooks Lee nor Lewis were able to create any more offense, and the Twins instead walked away with two more men left on base and the score still 3-1, when so much more seemed possible.
Buxton continued to be the offensive engine in the fourth inning. He hit his 17th double of 2025, and while on second base, the White Sox did traditional White Sox things, and the Twins outfielder took advantage. Reliever Cam Booser threw a wild pitch, and as Buxton was sprinting toward third base, White Sox catcher Kyle Teel fired off-target. As the ball zipped past third and into left field, it allowed Buxton to trot home and cut into the White Sox lead, bringing the score to 3-2.
Power and Speed in the Sixth
After a strange series of rare defensive misplays by Buxton that put the White Sox up 4-2, the Twins found some more offense in the sixth inning. It started with Royce Lewis hitting a solo home run, his 10th, to bring the Twins within one. Next up, Julien hit a double off the left-field wall. Recently recalled DaShawn Kiersey Jr. would pinch-run for Julien, steal third base, and then score on a sac fly off by, you guessed it, Buxton.
Pinch-Running Pays Off Again
Into the 7th inning, Matt Wallner started things with a hustle double. To get more speed in his spot, manager Rocco Baldelli opted to bring Austin Martin into the game to pinch-run. The Twins would reach two outs and were at risk of once again leaving a runner in scoring position. Instead of walking away empty-handed, though, Brooks Lee came up with a big single to score the go-ahead run, putting the Twins up 5-4.
With two runs being scored by pinch-runners, it’s safe to say that on this first day of September, Baldelli was able to use his expanded roster to impact the game significantly.
White Sox Not Done Yet
With Justin Topa on the mound, the White Sox would not settle for the Twins taking the lead from them. After a single by Curtis Mead and a Michael A. Taylor (pinch-running) sighting, the previous innings’ hero would make a throwing error. As Lee was unable to complete a would-be 3-6-1 double play, he also fired wide, and Meidroth wound up on second base with two outs. The White Sox did, with two outs, what the Twins were unable to do in the second inning.
Brooks Baldwin doubled to tie the ball game. Mike Tauchman hit his own double to replace Baldwin at second and give his team the advantage. The White Sox, after seven, would hold on to a one-run, 6-5 lead.
Those two runs would be the deciding factor. While the Twins’ moves seem to push some of the right buttons, the missed opportunities early in the game and Topa’s bad inning were insurmountable.
What’s Next?
After his recent return, Simeon Woods Richardson will make his second start for the Twins since recovering from his recent ordeal with a parasite. Woods Richardson will hope to rebound after giving up five runs against the Blue Jays. Davis Martin will bring his 4.03 ERA to make the start for the White Sox.
Postgame Interviews
Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
MON
TOT
Funderburk
0
23
0
0
31
54
Cabrera
0
0
31
0
20
51
Kriske
0
0
44
0
0
44
Topa
0
24
0
0
17
41
Tonkin
0
0
0
37
0
37
Sands
0
17
0
0
0
17
Adams
0
0
0
0
6
6
Hatch
0
0
0
0
0
0