Max Kepler hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning and the Minnesota Twins pulled away for a 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night in Minneapolis.
Ryan Jeffers also homered for Minnesota, which will go for a three-game sweep Sunday afternoon. Willi Castro and Brooks Lee drove in two runs apiece in the win.
Brooks Baldwin hit his first career home run for the White Sox, who extended their franchise record with their 19th loss in a row — the longest since the Baltimore Orioles lost 19 straight in 2021. Korey Lee tripled and drove in a run for Chicago.
Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (11-5) allowed two runs on two hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out seven.
White Sox right-hander Touki Toussaint (0-1) gave up two runs on three hits in three innings out of the bullpen. He followed starter Garrett Crochet, who allowed one run on one hit and four walks in four innings.
The Twins opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Jeffers pulled a pitch over the wall in left field for his team-leading 16th home run.
The White Sox pulled even at 1-1 in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Korey Lee ripped his first career triple to right field to drive in Gavin Sheets from first base.
Minnesota quickly regained the lead to make it 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth. Austin Martin hit a leadoff triple and scored moments later on a single by Brooks Lee.
Baldwin led off the top of the sixth with a solo homer to even the score at 2-2. It was the first career homer for the 23-year-old rookie whom the White Sox drafted in the 12th round in 2022.
The Twins broke the tie to pull ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh. Kepler pounded a curveball down the line in right field for his seventh homer.
Castro added a two-run single to right to increase the Twins’ lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth. He drove in Carlos Santana and Jeffers.
Two batters later, Brooks Lee singled to drive in Castro and make it 6-2.