MINNEAPOLIS _ It had been 22 months since Ricky Nolasco pitched eight full innings in one game. You'd think that much effort could earn a guy a victory.
Unfortunately for Nolasco on Friday night, Jose Quintana nearly matched him, and neither pitcher was around for the finish.
Eventually, Joe Mauer drew a bases-loaded walk with one out in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Twins a 2-1 victory.
Three pitches into his outing, Nolasco had given up a run. But 97 pitches later, he had his longest start since Sept. 16, 2014 _ an eight-inning, three-hit, six-strikeout gem.
Adam Eaton's leadoff home run was Nolasco's only mistake; the veteran right-hander didn't even allow another White Sox hitter to reach third base in the first game of a three-game series.
Quintana, meanwhile, was nearly as masterful; the Twins didn't put a runner on third base until the sixth inning, when they strung together four hits but managed only one run, on Kenny Vargas' line single to right, scoring Brian Dozier to tie the game.
Quintana allowed seven hits and one run while striking out nine over 62/3 innings.
