Royce Lewis delivered a standout performance with a home run and a season-high four RBIs as the Minnesota Twins cruised to a 10-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night. The loss marked the White Sox’s 18th consecutive defeat, the longest losing streak in the majors since Baltimore’s 19-game skid in August 2021. Chicago managed just three hits throughout the game.
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Royce Lewis
In the eighth inning, the Twins’ offense exploded, with Willi Castro and Byron Buxton both hitting two-run home runs as part of a six-run inning. Miguel Vargas provided the lone highlight for the White Sox with a two-run homer.
The White Sox have been outscored 112-39 during their losing streak and have failed to score more than three runs in 13 of their last 14 games since the All-Star break. “Going out there and winning games is what we need to think about,” Vargas said.
Lewis set the tone early, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning and adding a two-run double in the third. “I just got some pitches that I think he left over the middle plate a little more than he wanted to,” Lewis remarked.
After missing 16 games due to a right adductor strain and starting the season with a right quad strain that sidelined him for 63 games, Lewis has been a significant contributor when healthy. Despite being 4 for 19 in his previous six games, he has 12 home runs and 25 RBIs in just 31 games this season, including eight games with four or more RBIs in his 101-game career.
In the eighth inning, Christian Vázquez also contributed with a two-run double, and the combined efforts of Castro and Buxton further extended the lead with their home runs.
Joe Ryan (7-7) pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing just three hits and striking out seven for his first win in four starts. Ryan has now recorded 25 consecutive starts of at least five innings, including all 22 this year, marking the fourth-longest streak in baseball. “I think it’s a nice, real step for Joe Ryan at this point in his career to sit here and say, ‘We expect him to go out and pitch like that,’” said manager Rocco Baldelli. “I wouldn’t say that unless it was the case. It is the case. He’s doing his job and then some right now.”
Ryan struck out the first four White Sox hitters and did not give up a hit until Vargas’s home run in the third inning. Vargas, who was acquired from the Dodgers in a three-team trade with St. Louis, made his impact felt in his new role.
Davis Martin (0-1), making his first start since October 5, 2022, allowed four earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings. Martin, who underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2023, made his season debut with 2 2/3 innings of relief last Saturday. He was one strike away from escaping the first inning unscathed when a 3-2 slider to Lewis resulted in a two-run homer. “When you leave something over the middle of the plate he hits it,” Martin said. “We wanted to try and do some stuff, but just didn’t execute very well and he capitalized on them.”
Trainer’s Room
White Sox: RHP Drew Thorpe was placed on the 15-day Injured List, retroactive to Thursday, due to a right flexor strain. RHP Prelander Berroa was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte.
Twins: RF Max Kepler did not play two days after being hit in the helmet by a throw from Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez. Manager Rocco Baldelli noted that Kepler passed all concussion-protocol tests but still needs to complete a full workout before returning.
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