Royce Lewis hit a home run and had a season-high four RBIs as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Chicago White Sox 10-2 on Friday night, sending the White Sox to their 18th straight loss.
This losing streak is the longest in the majors since Baltimore lost 19 games in a row in August 2021. The White Sox managed only three hits during the game.
Willi Castro and Byron Buxton also hit home runs during a six-run eighth inning. Miguel Vargas hit a home run for the White Sox.
During their losing streak, the White Sox have been outscored 112-39 and have scored three or fewer runs in 13 of their last 14 games since the All-Star break. “Going out there and winning games is what we need to think about,” Vargas said.
Lewis hit a two-run home run in the first inning and a two-run double to right center in the third.
“I just got some pitches that I think he left over the middle plate a little more than he wanted to,” Lewis said.
Lewis, a key player for Minnesota when healthy, had struggled in his previous six games after missing 16 due to a right adductor strain. He also missed 63 games earlier this season because of a right quad strain from the season opener.
He has 12 home runs and 25 RBIs in 31 games this season and has had eight games with at least four RBIs in his 101 career games.
In the eighth inning, Christian Vázquez hit a two-run double, followed by Castro and Buxton each hitting two-run home runs.
Joe Ryan (7-7) allowed three hits and struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings, earning his first win in four starts. He has pitched at least five innings in 25 straight starts, including all 22 games this year, which is the fourth-longest streak in baseball.
“I think it’s a nice, real step for Joe Ryan at this point in his career to sit here and say, `We expect him to go out and pitch like that,’” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I wouldn’t say that unless it was the case. It is the case. He’s doing his job and then some right now.”
Ryan struck out the first four Chicago batters and didn’t allow a hit until Vargas hit a two-run home run in the third inning. Vargas was acquired from the Dodgers on Monday in a three-team trade that also involved St. Louis.
