The summary
The Twins scored nine runs in three innings against left-hander Chris Sale on the way to a 12-2 victory over the White Sox in the opener of a four-game series Thursday night at Target Field. The Twins totaled six hits in a seven-run third inning, including a three-run homer from Brian Dozier, to drive Sale from the game after 73 pitches.
At the plate
The Sox scored twice in the third against Trevor May on RBI singles from Melky Cabrera and Jose Abreu.
On the mound
Sale’s ERA catapulted from 2.37 to 5.32 after his three innings, in which he allowed nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
In the field
Alexei Ramirez committed a fielding error to contribute to an unearned Twins run in the second inning, and Adam Eaton launched a wild throw to the plate for an error that aided the Twins in the third.
On the bases
Ramirez doubled in the first inning but was thrown out at the plate trying to score on Cabrera’s single.
Key number
15 — Earned runs Sale and Jeff Samardzija allowed in the last two games.
The quote
“I just stunk, really. I was just bad, leaving pitches up. … Left some changeups up. Fastballs over the middle of the plate. Just didn’t put guys away when I should have or had the chance.” — Sale
Up next
At Twins, 7:10 p.m. Friday; CSN.
