The Chicago White Sox suffered their eighth straight series-opening loss in their latest debacle. In Monday’s series opener, the Minnesota Twins held the White Sox scoreless, marking Chicago’s eighth shutout loss of the season. The South Siders are 0-8 in series openers, and the 7-0 loss dropped their overall record to 3-19. They’ve been shut out once in every series they’ve played thus far.
Rookie Jonathan Cannon made his second career start, and his erratic command offered the Twins too many good pitches to hit. Cannon lasted on 3.2 innings in his encore to his MLB debut. Minnesota scored early and often and tagged the White Sox starter for six runs off nine hits and a walk.
Singles Galore
Max Keplar returned from the injured list for Minnesota and drove in four runs. His two-run double got the Twins on the board in the first inning and he added an RBI single in Minnesota’s three-run third.
Edouard Julien added a run-scoring double in the fourth and led off the seventh with a solo homer against White Sox reliever Chris Flexen. Chicago’s relief crew of Tim Hill, Flexen, and Steven Wilson tossed 4.1 innings, allowing one run, two hits, and a walk.
Recently called-up Danny Mendick was in the Sox lineup, recorded two base hits, and made an excellent diving play at third. Nicky Lopez added two base hits to Chicago’s eight singles for the evening. The White Sox had a chance to break up another embarrassing shutout in the fourth but failed to score despite loading the bases loaded with one out.
Minnesota starter Chris Paddack retired the first 10 hitters he faced en route to seven scoreless innings. He fanned 10, allowed six hits, and issued no walks.