Santana one-hits White Sox; Twins win 6-0

THE TWINS defeated the White Sox 6-0 today, improving to 4-1 at Target Field this season…the Twins are now 4-1 in games against left-handed starting pitchers…the Twins combined for six hits and five runs in the first inning, the most first inning hits since collecting seven on July 13, 2014 at COL…it was also the most hits in a single inning since September 3, 2016 vs. CWS (also 6)…all nine Twins in the lineup collected a hit for the second time this season, both coming in the last three games (also 4/14 at DET)…the Twins shutout an opponent for the first time this season, and have allowed two-runs-or-fewer in seven of their 11 games this season.

1. ERVIN SANTANA tossed his 17th career complete game and ninth career shutout…allowed one hit, one walk and eight strikeouts in 9.0 innings…it was the first complete game by a Twins pitcher since Kyle Gibson on August 17, 2016 at ATL (3 by Twins in 2016)…was the first shutout by a Twins pitcher since Ervin Santana allowed two hits and no runs in 9.0 innings on July 6, 2016 vs. OAK… April 15 is earliest for a shutout by a Twins pitcher since Kevin Tapani did it on April 12, 1991 vs. CAL…allowed just one hit today, the third time in his career to throw at least 7.0 innings and allow fewer than two hits (9.0 no-hitter 7/27/11 at CLE and 9.0 inning one-hitter 6/16/12 vs. ARI)…was the 17th one-hitter in Twins history, the last coming May 28, 2011 vs. LAA (Swarzak/Capps/Burnett)…last one-hitter by one Twins pitcher came on August 31, 2007 vs. KC by Scott Baker…in 22.0 innings this season has allowed just two runs and five hits in his three starts (all wins).

2. MAX KEPLER (2-for-4) hit a double and a triple while driving in two runs today off left-hander José Quintana…Kepler entered the day just 1-for-10 against lefties this season…it was his first career triple off a left-hander and ninth career double…has a hit in four straight games, batting .400 (6-for-15) with three doubles, a home run and four RBI.

3. ROBBIE GROSSMAN (2-for-3) doubled to leadoff the game, hit an RBI single in the eighth and walked twice…he now has nine walks on the season and was tied for seventh in the AL in walks entering today’s game…over last five games is hitting .375 (6-for-16).

4. MIGUEL SANÓ (1-for-4) doubled in the first inning to extend his current on-base streak to 11 games…he followed with a walk in the sixth inning…he has 11 walks this season, including seven in the last four games.