Sox drop G1 despite TA7 and Lynn's efforts

CHICAGO -- For the first time during the 2021 season, the White Sox lost to the Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Minnesota scored twice in the eighth inning to claim a 3-2 victory in the first game of Monday's doubleheader, snapping a six-game road losing streak in Chicago. Nelson Cruz’s sacrifice fly and Jorge Polanco’s single to right provided the winning margin, with Luis Arraez barely beating Adam Engel’s throw home for the third run. José Abreu doubled home a run in the bottom of the eighth to trim the deficit to one run, but the White Sox couldn't complete the rally.

Tim Anderson’s third-inning heroics gave the White Sox early control as he homered off Griffin Jax with two outs in the frame for Chicago's lone hit and run against the Minnesota starter. The blast to right-center extended Anderson’s hitting streak to a career-best 16 games, extended his runs-scored streak to a career-best 12 games and extended his franchise-record streak to 12 games with a hit and a run scored.

With runners on first and second and two outs in the top half of the inning, Anderson ran a long way into short left field to snare Trevor Larnach’s popup and keep the Twins scoreless. One run was enough support for Lance Lynn until the sixth, when Cruz tied the game with a home run to left in an All-Star vs. All-Star battle.

Lynn lowered his ERA to 1.94, putting him back in front of teammate Carlos Rodón for the American League lead. Lynn, Rodón and Lucas Giolito have combined to allow two runs, both on solo home runs, in their past 23 innings pitched. Lynn struck out four over seven innings (89 pitches) in his first start since agreeing to a two-year, $38 million contract extension -- with a team option for 2024 -- this past weekend.

“The big thing is don't suck the first one out after it, really,” said Lynn of his first start after signing a new deal. “You're honored to get the extension and be here and all that, and you want to make sure you go out and prove it. And you definitely don't want to have a bad one the first one back after it. You have to go out there and make pitches and stay within yourself, and I was able to do that. Everything felt pretty good. All in all, one bad pitch cost me a run. But threw the ball pretty well besides that."

“He was outstanding as always,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “He missed his location on the one pitch to Cruz. He was upset about it, but he was outstanding.”