Ventura Ejected As White Sox Beat Twins 10-4, Reach 20 Wins
CHICAGO (AP) -- Melky Cabrera had four hits and three RBIs, Jose Abreu hit a solo homer, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins, 10-4, on Friday night to become the second major league team to reach 20 wins.
Adam Eaton drove in two runs and made one of three fine defensive plays for the White Sox (20-10), who trail only the crosstown Cubs (22-6) for most victories. Mat Latos (5-0) labored through five innings before four relievers combined for four scoreless innings as the White Sox snapped a two-game skid.
Benches cleared in the eighth when Trevor May hit Abreu with a 97 mph fastball. That came after Minnesota's Byung Ho Park was hit by a pitch in the top of the inning. White Sox manager Robin Ventura was ejected, but no players were tossed.
Ricky Nolasco (1-1) gave up seven runs, five earned, and nine hits in five innings, and Oswaldo Garcia hit a two-run homer for the Twins, who fell to an AL-worst 8-21 despite a pregame roster shake-up.
Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar's fielding error in the first led to two unearned runs on Cabrera's two-run double. Escobar left with a groin injury in the third.
Latos was far from sharp, giving up four runs and seven hits in five innings. But he got plenty of help to surpass his win total from last year with three teams.
Abreu led off the third with a homer to left and the White Sox built a 7-4 lead on Brett Lawrie's RBI single in the fifth.
Kurt Suzuki had two hits, including an RBI single in the second in Minnesota's seventh loss in eight games.
Abreu began shouting at May after he was hit, leading to benches and bullpens emptying. Ventura, upset that May wasn't ejected, was tossed by crew chief Bill Miller. It was Ventura's second ejection of the season.
SHAKE-UP
Casey Fien sat at his locker before the game, knowing the reports that he and fellow reliever Tommy Milone had been placed on irrevocable waivers. Still, they were in better shape than relievers Ryan O'Rourke and J.R. Graham, who were designated for assignment.
C John Ryan Murphy was also sent to Triple-A Rochester as the Twins began a roster overhaul.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: There was no immediate word on the severity of Escobar's injury. . 2B Brian Dozier (right hamstring) sat out, but was confident he'll play Saturday. Dozier was injured leaving the batter's box in his first at-bat Wednesday. . Manager Paul Molitor said RHP Kyle Gibson (shoulder) won't be ready to come off the disabled list when he's eligible Monday.
White Sox: C Alex Avila (strained right hamstring) went 0 for 1 with a walk to begin a rehab stint with Triple-A Charlotte. Manager Robin Ventura said Avila could rejoin the team as soon as Monday.
UP NEXT
White Sox LHP Chris Sale (6-0, 1.66 ERA) tries to become the majors' first seven-game winner Saturday. RHP Ervin Santana (0-1, 3.15), fresh off the disabled list following a back injury, starts for Minnesota.
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