Dylan Cease battled, Yasmani Grandal made contact, Jose Abreu continued to heat up, the bullpen was lights out, and the White Sox offense erupted late in the game. Overall, it was a statement victory for the White Sox. Before the season started, the White Sox knew they needed to overcome the Minnesota Twins in the division. If tonight’s performance was any indication, they should have no problem doing just that.

Cease Battles

Dylan Cease was roughed up in the second inning. He grooved an 0-2 fastball to Jorge Polanco that resulted in a home run, then loaded the bases and hit Ben Rortvedt with an 0-2 slider. It was beginning to look like a vintage Cease start where a big inning and high pitch count undo him early.

However, Cease gutted through the rest of the game. He escaped the bases-loaded jam and limited the Twins to only three runs. This game marked a major step forward for Dylan Cease. For most of the night, he was out of rhythm and lacked control. He also clearly did not have his best stuff. However, he delivered some timely pitches when he needed them most. He battled and was able to keep the White Sox in the game.

In the fourth inning his pitch count was in jeopardy, and he manufactured a critical 1-2-3 inning in which he struck out the side. Willians Astudillo whiffed at a nasty slider, then Cease undressed Andrelton Simmons with a knuckled curve. Ben Roverdt bookended the inning by watching a 3-2 fastball blow past him.

Cease’s final pitch of the night was also his biggest. With runners on second and third, he got Jorge Polanco to chase a low changeup.

Grandal & Abreu Go Yard

There are some times when you simply cannot take a walk. Yasmani Grandal came into the game on an unprecedented walking spree. However, a walk would not have done the White Sox much good down by three runs in the second inning. Yasmani Grandal came to the plate with two men on and delivered. He launched the second pitch of the at-bat to the right field stands and sent a charge throughout the stadium, and tied the game. The game-tying home run gave the White Sox all the momentum the rest of the way.

Later, Jose Abreu decided to join the fun and break the tie in the sixth inning. Abreu was inches shy of a home run in the third but was robbed by Max Kepler. Pito would not be denied three innings later. A hanging 91 mph slider was no match for the former MVP who sent it over the left centerfield fence.

This was a positive sign for a team that ranks near the bottom half of the MLB in homers after leading the AL just a season ago.

Crochet Earns First Win

Garrett Crochet earned his first win in style. With the game in the balance, he came up clutch. The Twins had runners at the corners, and the score deadlocked at three. Crochet was unfazed. He got Mitch Garver to pop out, then escaped the jam by freezing Luis Arraez with a nasty slider.

The White Sox went on to take the lead in the bottom half of the inning, putting Crochet in line for the win. The pitching did not relinquish the lead and the second-year left-hander went home with a milestone. Aaron Bummer helped the cause in his inning and a third of work. Bummer looked virtually un-hittable and earned his fourth hold of the season. Bummer is starting to round into form after an ugly start to the season.

Late Inning Offense

The White Sox offense has scored nine runs in three straight games. During the previous two nearly all of those runs came early in the game. The White Sox had a balanced attack throughout in this one. Grandal provided three runs in the third, then Abreu tacked on two more in the sixth.

During the seventh and eighth, the offense decided to pile it on and flipped a competitive game into a blowout. Tim Anderson showcased an impressive piece of hitting by turning on an inside slider and driving home Billy Hamilton. Adam Eaton kept the line moving with a double the scored Anderson.

In the next inning, Leury Garcia got involved in the action and slapped an RBI single to left field. Nick Madrigal followed that up with a two-strike single to right field that plated the final run of the evening.