Andrew Vaughn, the Chicago White Sox’s top-ranked prospect, hit the first home run of his major-league career in Wednesday’s 13-8 victory against the Minnesota Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The two-run homer to left-center came during a five-run fourth inning. It went an estimated 436 feet.
The Sox won their fifth straight. It’s their fourth consecutive game scoring at least nine runs.
Once again, there was production throughout the lineup.
Leadoff batter Tim Anderson singled twice, drove in one and scored once. Cleanup hitter José Abreu went 2-for-5 with a triple, a single and three RBIs. And No. 8 hitter Billy Hamilton went 4-for-4 with a triple, a double and two singles. He stole a base, drove in one and scored three times. The four hits tied a career high.
Vaughn, the No. 7 hitter, walked and scored on Hamilton’s triple in the second.
Yasmani Grandal walked to begin the fourth. Vaughn then hit a 1-1 J.A. Happ slider for home run No. 1, giving the Sox a 6-3 lead.
The Sox tacked on three more in the inning, and Grandal added a solo home run against reliever Shaun Anderson during a three-run fifth as the Sox built a 12-3 lead.
Sox starter Dallas Keuchel allowed six runs on eight hits with one strikeout and one walk in 5 2/3 innings. The Sox (21-13) remained a game ahead of the Cleveland Indians (20-14) for first place in the American League Central. The Twins (12-22) are nine back.
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