Twins’ Sonny Gray hoping for long-awaited win vs. White Sox

minnesota twins Byron Buxton ended an ugly streak by winning the series opener on Friday night chicago white sox, Now they’re hoping All-Star right-hander Sonny Gray can pitch another Saturday night

Gray (4-4, 3.16 ERA), who has lost his last two starts, brings a 13-game winless streak into the contest. His last win came on April 30 when he helped the American League Central Division leaders to an 8–4 victory over Kansas City.

Gray suffered a 7-6 loss to Seattle on Monday night when he gave up five runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and struck out five, including Julio Rodríguez during a four-run fifth inning. He also hit a batsman.

Gray also suffered a big inning in his debut against Baltimore before the All-Star break, when he gave up six runs, including a pair of bases-loaded walks, in the second inning of a 6–2 loss.

Gray said of his bases-loaded walk, “To be honest, it’s absolutely unacceptable.” “Maybe it’s a mindset but I’d rather give up back-to-back homers than keep doing what I’m doing. … It’s the same thing over and over again. That’s the frustrating part.

“I have to find out. I mean, I have to find out. I don’t know what that is, but I have to find out.”

Perhaps Gray could take some advice from teammate Buxton when it comes to ending a bad streak.

Buxton, who sat out two games to “reset” Seattle, broke his 0-for-26 streak in Friday night’s 9-4 series-opening victory, including 16 strikeouts with two home runs and four RBI.

Buxton drilled a Lance Lynn fastball 427 feet deep into the bullpen in left center for a three-run homer during a five-run first inning to end the hitting drought. He added a homer in the fourth for his 10th career multi-homer game.

Buxton said, “It felt good, especially to be home and start like this after the road trip was big for me.” “Just stay positive.”

Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said, “I sure felt good.” “I mean, the first ball he hit, it was like a torpedo going in that direction. Baseball doesn’t get hit harder than that. Really impressive day for him.”

Alex Kirilloff homered and doubled and scored four runs, and Ryan Jeffers also hit a tape-measure homer off Chicago starter Lance Lynn. Lynn has allowed a major league-leading 28 home runs this season.

Lynn said, “I gave up four home runs.” “It’s hard to win when you do that.”

Chicago will turn to right-hander Dylan Seas (4-3, 4.18) to try to even the series. Seas is 4–4 with a 5.03 ERA in 11 career starts against Minnesota.

Seaz broke a streak of eight starts without a decision with an 8-1 victory in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon. The Milton (Ga.) High School product, playing in front of about 40 friends and family, allowed one run on three hits over five innings. He walked three times and scored six runs.

“I feel great,” Seage, who had become a Braves fan, said afterward. “I didn’t have the best command and he also did a good job of battling and batting long. It’s not a great combo to go deep, but I’m happy to make five with a single and the pen has caught me.”

–Field Level Media