Another Twins starter flamed out early Friday night, and manager Paul Molitor tried to keep the game close with pitchers who have spent more time at Class AAA Rochester this season than the majors.
The Red Wings relay faltered. The Chicago White Sox scored three runs in the eighth to take a four-run lead, then three more in the ninth to pull away to an 11-4 romp at Target Field. After ending their 13-game losing streak Thursday, the Twins fell right back into the loss column.
Kyle Gibson gave way after 5⅔ innings with the Twins trailing 5-4. Ryan O'Rourke got the final out of the sixth and Pat Light worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh to keep the Twins within a run.
"He's got a nice split-fingered pitch," Molitor said of Light, "but he still has to use his fastball to get those guys to expand. He got into some trouble but he pitched his way out, which was good to see."
In the eighth inning, the baton went to Alex Wimmers, who gave up a single, then threw wildly after fielding a bunt to put runners on second and third.
"The bunt was a big play in the inning, not getting an out," Molitor said. "Things kind of deteriorated."
With the bases loaded, Tyler Saladino hit a sacrifice fly to make it 6-4. With two outs, Wimmers was ahead of Jose Abreu 1-2 in the count, but the slugger served a two-run single to center for an 8-4 White Sox lead.
J.T. Chargois got the last out of the eighth but gave up three in the ninth on three hits and a walk. "Too much for us to overcome," Molitor said.