Chicago White Sox

Nelson Cruz Home Run Barrage Carries Twins to Win Over White Sox

Cruz had two chances for a fourth home run, but fell just short in the winning effort

Minnesota Twins slugger Nelson Cruz hit three home runs in a game for the first time in his career, and Miguel Sanó and Max Kepler each hit long balls in a blowout win over the Chicago White Sox. 

Cruz hit all three of his home runs off of White Sox starter Lucas Giolito, who gave up seven earned runs in five innings of work. He had two chances to become only the second player in history to hit four home runs in a game against the White Sox, but struck out and flew out to right field as he came up just short. 

Yoán Moncada hit his 19th home run of the season in the second inning, and Leury García and AJ Reed both drove in runs as the White Sox dropped the series opener on the South Side. 

Cruz got things off to a rollicking start in the first inning, blasting a long home run to left field to give the Twins a 1-0 lead. Moncada tied things up in the second with a homer of his own, but Cruz responded right back with a two-run shot in the third to make it a 3-1 game. 

The Twins piled on in the fifth, with Kepler and Cruz each hitting home runs, and Sanó homered to left field in the sixth to give the Twins a 9-2 lead. 

The White Sox offense couldn't seem to get their bats sorted out against Jose Berrios in the game, and they were ultimately vanquished in the first game of a four-game series. 

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