White Sox: Avi’s Big Day Caps off Win over Twins
By Rob Hill
White Sox hand division rival its first loss of the season. South Siders get major contribution from young right fielder.
After receiving a very solid start from Derek Holland the night before, Chicago White Sox veteran right hander Miguel Gonzalez was looking to continue his recent dominance at Guarnteed Rate Field on Saturday afternoon. Gonzalez, dating back to last season, was 4-1 in his last 6 home starts.
He faced a Minnesota Twins team who entered 2017 with no high expectations but had started the season 4-0. Gonzalez did all he could to change that as he pitched a solid six innings allowing just two earned runs on seven hits in a 6-2 Sox victory over Minnesota. His only mistake of the game was a long two run homer allowed to Twins’ backstop Jason Castro.
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The story of the day, however, belonged to Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia. He came into Saturday’s game off too a torrid start, hitting .417 with one run batted in. He added on to that by going 3-for-4 with a monstrous home run to center field that gave the South Siders a 5-2 lead in the sixth inning. He also was granted a little luck from the baseball gods as well.
After his second inning triple that drove in Todd Frazier, Garcia was picked off third base but somehow managed to score on a poor rundown execution by Minnesota. Garcia was just a double short of the cycle and is trying his best to prove to himself, his teammates, and the fans of the White Sox that he is better than he’s played in years past.
.@AvisailGarcia crushed a 2-run homer followed by Geovany Soto's solo HR in the bottom of the 6th inning. WATCH: https://t.co/zIoKdGzeEl
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 8, 2017
Geovany Soto went back-to-back with Garcia in the sixth inning for his third home run of the season. The other Sox run was provided by a Melky Cabrera RBI ground out in the first inning.
The Sox held a commanding 6-2 lead going into the 7th inning and never looked back. Zach Putnam pitched two scoreless innings, and lefty Dan Jennings pitched a scoreless ninth inning to secure the White Sox second win of 2017.
The White Sox bullpen continues to flourish early as they have yet to allow an earned run in 13.1 innings of work this season.
Next: White Sox Sign Ryan Raburn to Minor League Deal
What’s Next?
The White Sox and Twins will conclude their series finale Sunday afternoon. A 1:10 start as Sox ace Jose Quintana (0-1 10.13 ERA) tries to redeem himself as he battles Twins ace Ervin Santana (1-0 1.29 ERA).