Twins inch closer to HR record with W

*Photo from startribune.com*

   Even with their normal power hitters out of the lineup, the Minnesota Twins can still mash. Jake Cave homered twice, Jose Berrios pitched 6 innings, and the Twins set the MLB record for most road home runs with a 10-5 win over the Chicago White Sox. Cave's homer in the 3rd inning gave the Twins 139 homers away from Target Field, breaking the mark of 138 held by the 2001 San Francisco Giants. They have a total of 261 on the season, 6 away from the record of 267 held by the 2018 New York Yankees. Cave was in the lineup due to Max Kepler getting some rest.

   The Twins jumped ahead early in the first inning, when Nelson Cruz and Eddie Rosario each had RBI singles, and CJ Cron added a two run single to make it 4-0 before Berrios stepped on the mound. In the second, Cruz hit a two run single to make it 6-0. In the 3rd, Cave and Cron hit solo homers to make it 8-0. In the 5th, Luis Arraez hit a sac fly to make the lead 9-0. The White Sox then got on the board thanks to an RBI single by Yolmer Sanchez, and a wild pitch that scored a run to make it 9-2. In the 6th, Eloy Jimenez hit an RBI single to make it 9-3. In the 7th, Cave homered for the second time to make it 10-3. The White Sox got their other two runs in the 9th on an RBI double and fielder's choice.

   Dylan Cease only lasted two innings for the White Sox, giving up 8 runs on 10 hits and one walk. Hector Santiago pitched the longest for Chicago, lasting 3 innings. Cease said that ''The stuff was there, if I execute pitches better, it's better results.'' Manager Rick Renteria had the same opinion. Cease fell to 3-7 on the season with the loss. 

   Berrios went 6 innings, giving up 3 runs on 7 hits and two walks. He struck out 8 as the Twins won their 5th straight game. Randy Dobnak finished the game, pitching 3 innings in relief of Berrios. The Twins were without players such as Marwin Gonzalez, Kepler, and Miguel Sano. Cave said after the game that ''I just think hitting is contagious and that goes with the homers as well, we were missing some really good players out there.'' 

   The Twins head to Detroit for the weekend, where Kyle Gibson will face Detroit's Edwin Jackson. The White Sox travel to Atlanta, where Ivan Nova will start against Atlanta's Max Fried.