It could be their confidence in Chris Sale or it could be the 12 o’clock start time. Whatever it was, something had the Chicago White Sox bats on fire in today’s rubber matchup against the Minnesota Twins.
The White Sox recorded a season high 21 hits as they rolled over the Twins 12-4. Sale was his usual dominant self. The AL leader in ERA went seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits. While his performance was fantastic, it was the Sox’ bats that stole the show. Every batter in the lineup managed to record at least one hit, seven of them having two or more. Kevin Youkilis must be getting used to his Sox uniform. The new addition went 3-4 with two RBIs.
Rios turning up the heat
The Sox took a 2-0 lead into the fifth and there was no looking back after that. Adam Dunn smashed a line drive into left field for a three run homer. It was his 24th bomb. Later in the game, his RBI single would bring his total to an impressive 57. While his power numbers are impressive, his home run capped off a series slump and his average is still dangerously close to .200. If that even ventures into the .100′s, Sox fans will remember how rough last season was and they may lose confidence in him. But for now, he is still doing what he is paid to do and that is to produce runs.
Speaking of players who had an off last year and are now turning it around: Alex Rios. The 31 year-old veteran went 3-5 today with a home run and two RBIs. He has been swinging the bat well lately and his average is now at an impressive .297 with 38 RBIs.. This isn’t bad for someone who finished at .227 with only 44 runs driven in all last year. He is finally playing like the two-time all-star the Sox expected.
Team captain Paul Konerko sat today’s matchup out. Nothing to be concerned about, just a routine day off. Konerko is currently enduring a 1-17 slump so hopefully the time off gets his swing back to normal. With Cleveland losing to the Yankees this afternoon, the Sox improved their lead to 2.5 games atop the AL Central. Tomorrow, they’ll head to New York to start a difficult four-game set against the Yanks.
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