MINNEAPOLIS _ On Monday, the White Sox tried to hand the Twins the game, committing three errors in one inning and going 5-for-20 with runners in scoring position. Yet the Twins still managed to lose.
Two nights later, the Twins learned how to accept such gifts as they pulled away from Chicago.
Jake Cave, Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario each homered and the Twins took advantage of four more White Sox errors to build an 8-1 lead that held up for a series win. Righthander Jose Berrios had some shaky moments but his breaking ball was undeniably electric in six effective innings, striking out eight.
Aesthetics aside, it was the desired outcome, especially with Josh Donaldson returned to the lineup after missing 30 games because of a right calf injury. It didn't take him long to make an impact in the game.
With two outs in the second, Cave smashed a solo home run off White Sox righthander Reynaldo Lopez, the same pitcher he hit a grand slam off July 26. Ryan Jeffers walked and Max Kepler reached when second baseman Nick Madrigal mishandled his grounder.
Up came Donaldson, who rocketed a two-run double to right-center to give the Twins a 3-0 lead. But the play exemplified the ebb and flow of the Twins' season.
Jeffers scored from second on the play and Kepler scored, too, but he pulled up at the end of his dash and limped into the dugout because of a tight left groin. The Twins welcomed back Donaldson and Byron Buxton from injury and Michael Pineda from the suspended list this week and looked as healthy as they have been in weeks. But now they are facing the loss of Kepler for a few games.
And it didn't help that Luis Arraez left the game in the sixth after running to first base and had to be replaced by Ehire Adrianza.
Chicago scored a run in the third, an inning in which Sano and Luis Arraez both botched makable plays in the field. Sano's home run came in the bottom of the inning, a 405-foot blast that struck the facing of the second deck in left field.
He led off the fifth with a double to right off a 97 miles-per-hour fastball by reliever Zack Burdi. Luis Arraez followed with a grounder to Jose Abreu at first, who immediately ran at Sano, who was stranded between second and third. A rundown ensued, during which shortstop Tim Anderson threw wildly to third base, allowing Sano to rumble home and score. That was Chicago's third error of the game, as third baseman Yoan Moncada committed a throwing error the inning before. So three White Sox infielders committed errors on Wednesday. Left fielder Eloy Jimenez joined them in the sixth when he made a meal out of a fly ball hit by Arraez that ticked off his glove. That was the play during which Arraez was injured.
Cave followed with an RBI single to give the Twins a 6-1 lead. Rosario added a two-run shot in the sixth.
Berrios held the White Sox to one run over six innings on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. The walks were an improvement, as he entered the game averaging 4.5 walks per nine innings.
In addition to the misplays in the field there appeared to be a missed replay review. The Twins had the bases loaded with no outs in the first when Nelson Cruz struck out and Rosario hit into a double play. Or did he?
The Twins challenged the play, claiming that Anderson came off the bag at second before receiving the throwing from Madrigal. Replays suggested the possibility but, after a 3 minute, 5 second review, the decision was upheld.
It was a hint of how the night was going to go.
