Engel gets big hit as White Sox top Twins 3-1

Adam Engel delivered a tiebreaking pinch-hit single in the eighth inning, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 3-1 on Monday night to increase their lead in the AL Central.

Chicago opened its pivotal four-game set against Minnesota with its ninth win in 10 games. The White Sox (31-16) moved two games ahead of the second-place Twins (30-19).

Twins reliever Taylor Rogers (1-3) walked Yoán Moncada and Luis Robert with no outs in the eighth. Engel then made it 2-1 with a single to center.

After Nick Madrigal lined out, Tim Anderson added an RBI double off the fence in left. Anderson had three hits, strengthening his position in the race for the AL MVP award.

“This is the moment that you want to be in,” Anderson said before the game. "It’s playoff ball, really."

White Sox reliever Gio González retired the first two batters in the eighth before issuing consecutive walks. Alex Colomé relieved González and walked Josh Donaldson to load the bases for Nelson Cruz, who grounded out to leave the bases loaded for the second time in the game.

Minnesota went 2 for 16 with runners in scoring position and left 15 runners on base. It had won three in a row.

Colome (2-0) also worked around another adventure for left fielder Eloy Jiménez in the ninth.

Byron Buxton hit a line drive by Jiménez that went to the fence. Jiménez put his hands up because he thought the ball was lodged at the bottom of the wall. Buxton didn’t hesitate and ran around the bases for what appeared to be an inside-the-park homer.

After a replay review, the home run was overturned and Buxton went back to second for a ground-rule double. Colomé recorded the final out by striking out Jake Cave looking.

The White Sox are off to their best start since they were 31-15 in 2006. They are trying for their first division title since 2008.

Chicago jumped in front on Madrigal’s two-out RBI single in the second. Minnesota tied it on Jorge Polanco’s two-out RBI single in the fifth, chasing Dylan Cease.

The Twins put the leadoff hitter on in the first six innings. Cease struck out Willians Astudillo with runners at first and third to end the fourth.

Twins starter Jose Berríos allowed six hits in five innings.

MAKING MOVES

The Twins recalled infielder Travis Blakenhorn, who was on their taxi squad. Blakenhorn split time between Single-A Ft. Myers and Double-A Pensacola in 2019.

Left-hander Devin Smeltzer was optioned and moved to the taxi squad. Smeltzer started one game for the Twins and was 2-0 with a 6.75 ERA.

TRAINER”S ROOM

Twins: INF Marwin Gonzalez was scratched due to an illness. … INF Miguel Sanó was sidelined by a stiff neck. “Miggy is not at the point where he can turn his head enough,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. … OF Eddie Rosario was also out of the lineup after colliding with Buxton in the outfield on Sunday and injuring his left elbow. He is day to day.

UP NEXT

Randy Dobnak (6-3) is Tuesday’s scheduled starter for the Twins. The right-hander will try to bounce back after struggling in his previous outing. Dane Dunning (1-0) gets the ball for the White Sox.