The Twins know Hector Santiago can be hit, and they know they can do the hitting against him. But on Wednesday, more than a year since his last victory in Target Field, the former Twins lefthander and current White Sox reclamation project reminded his old team that he's a master of muddling through.

Santiago, allowed to walk away after last season's 5.63 ERA debacle, pitched five messy, imperfect innings, but departed with his first victory at his old home park since May 3, 2017.

The White Sox pitcher, whose Twins career ended last July when he couldn't throw his fastball harder than the mid-80s, seemed to take no extra pride in beating his old team.

"They beat ... me last time in Chicago, so it was nice to come back here and get a win against them," Santiago said. "It's all in good fun out there. You're competing, and between the lines, you don't care who you're facing. You kind of want to get them out and you don't mind throwing the ball up and in."

PHIL MILLER