If this was Hector Santiago's last start for a while, he'll step back as a winner.
He and numerous other members of the White Sox redeemed themselves over the course of the evening to ensure a split in Minnesota. Their 20th win of the season also avoids a share of the worst 60-game start in franchise history.
Santiago needed 58 pitches to get through two innings, yet ultimately lasted five. It looked like it might be cut short in the second when the inning started with a single and two doubles, yet he somehow only resulted in one run. He gave up another frustrating run in the fourth, giving back the run the Sox scored for him in the top of the inning after a pair of two-out hits.
Yet he exited a winner because the Sox struck for four runs in the sixth, with Tim Anderson making up for his own mistake earlier in the game.
Anderson had tied the game in the fourth with a two-out single, but he was thrown out by plenty trying to stretch the single into a double. Instead of runners on the corners and two outs, Jake Odorizzi was able to escape.
He came to the plate with the bases loaded in the sixth after three of the first four Sox singled. He didn't need to drive in the tying run, because #WILDPITCHOFFENSE took care of that. However, he did put the Sox ahead with a two-run single, and this time he smartly took second on a bad throw in.
Anderson wasn't done running. He stole third, then scored when the White Sox successfully executed a suicide squeeze. Adam Engel's bunt was almost good enough for an RBI single, but it still made it a three-run lead despite being called out on the review.
The bullpen made it hold up. Bruce Rondon and Jace Fry wobbled in the seventh, but stranded a couple of walks. Nate Jones -- another redemption story -- pitched a 1-2-3 eighth with a pair of strikeouts, and Joakim Soria shrugged off a two-out infield single for the save.
Bullet points:
*The Sox were 2-for-2 stealing bases, while Kevan Smith didn't have a steal attempt against him.
*Yoan Moncada had a rough game, going 0-for-5 with four strikeouts, but three of the strikeouts were looking, and CB Bucknor's zone was the worst the Sox have seen this season.
*Engel had another good game, dropping down the bunt, drawing a walk and robbing Eduardo Escobar of yet another double with a running catch in the gap.
*Yolmer Sanchez extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
*Aaron Bummer was optioned to Charlotte after the game to make a spot on the 25-man roster. Alfredo Gonzalez was outrighted to Charlotte earlier in the day to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Carlos Rodon is coming back.
Record: 20-39 | Box score
