CHICAGO _ White Sox players gathered in the home dugout at Guaranteed Rate Field at about 1 p.m., slipped on pairs of blue glasses and stared up at the sky.
The 4:10 p.m. doubleheader between the Sox and Twins was well-timed in that both teams had the opportunity to view Monday's solar eclipse before settling into pregame work.
Outfielders Avisail Garcia, Nicky Delmonico and Alen Hanson and pitchers Mike Pelfrey and Jake Petricka were among the players to check out the eclipse from the dugout.
The Twins were the ones looking skyward when play began. Yolmer Sanchez and Jose Abreu homered to help the Sox to a 7-6 victory.
Sanchez hit a three-run shot off Twins starter Tim Melville, who was making his season debut, and he added a sacrifice fly off reliever Nik Turley in the fifth.
With a solo homer in the fifth, Abreu became the 10th player in major-league history _ and the first Sox player _ to record four straight seasons of 25 or more homers to start his career.
After Carlos Rodon gave up two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, Sox relievers held off the Twins just enough. Juan Minaya recorded his third save in three opportunities with a perfect ninth. He also had saves Friday and Sunday against the Rangers.
"Some of these guys are learning how to carry certain roles," manager Rick Renteria said. "They're showing more and more confidence in what they're doing. That bodes well for everybody _ the club and the organization and themselves as performers."
Renteria said the Sox might spread out the late-innings opportunities, but Minaya hopes to receive more chances. He said he was surprised to hear his name called in that spot Friday.
"We didn't know when we were going to pitch," Minaya said. "I was a little nervous, but I got it.
"I felt a little pressure for myself, for my team, for everybody. It's the last inning. Everybody is trying to score. It is hard."
Left-hander Derek Holland pitched in relief in Game 1 after throwing just 71 pitches Saturday, and like many of his outings lately, it didn't go well. He recorded one out and gave up a three-run homer to Jorge Polanco.
Renteria said Holland is still on track to make his next start Thursday, and his appearance Monday functioned as a sideline session.
Second baseman Yoan Moncada was back in the lineup in Game 1 after missing two games with shin splits in his right leg, but Renteria held Moncada out of the second game as they try to quiet the irritation.
