Sox clinch playoffs for first time since 2008
Rally in seventh helps secure first playoff berth since 2008
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox are headed to the postseason for the first time since 2008 after beating theMinnesota Twins 4-3 Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The Sox scored twice in the seventh to rally for the win.
The Sox trailed 3-2 heading into the inning but Jarrod Dyson, who had two hits, began the rally with a single. He stole second and moved to third on a Tim Anderson grounder to second. Yasmani Grandal drew a two-outwalk.
Twins reliever Sergio Romo got Jose Abreu to hit a grounder to deep short. Abreu beat Jorge Polanco's throw to first and Dyson scored to tie the game.
Eloy Jimenez followed with a double to left and pinch runner Yolmer Sanchez scored to give the Sox the 4-3 lead.
Abreu andEdwinEncarnacion homered for the Sox (33-17), who increased their lead in the American League Central to three games over the second-place Twins (31-21).
Byron Buxton homered twice for the Twins.
Buxton's solo homer in the second gave the Twins a 1-0 lead. Abreu tied the score in the fourth with his 17th home run of the season. He leads the AL with 51 RBIs.
Buxton homered in the top of the fifth and Encarnacion answered with his solo homer to tie the game at 2 in the bottom of the inning.
Josh Donaldson broke the tie with a solo home run to right leading off the top of the sixth. Donaldson was not pleased with a strike call on the pitch before hitting the home run, and he kicked dirt on home plate after circling the bases and was kicked
out of the game.
The Twins nearly added to the lead in the seventh when Sox center fielder Luis Robert dropped a fly ball hit by Ryan Jeffers. Buxton attempted to score on the miscue but was thrown out at the plate.
Codi Heuer struck out Max Kepler to end the seventh. Heuer had three strikeouts in 1? innings for the win. Alex Colome recorded his 12th save.