The only way to break out of an early-season funk is to keep going.
For the Minnesota Twins, that means being as active as possible when they do get on base.
Minnesota will look to take another step forward when it faces the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday evening in the second contest of a three-game series in Minneapolis. The Twins snapped a three-game skid with a 4-2 win in Tuesday’s series opener.
Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli praised his team for its intensity and intelligence on the bases.
“The aggressiveness on the bases is leading to runs,” he said. “It’s starting rallies. It’s putting runs on the board. It’s guys running the bases both hard and smart at the same time. We’re seeing it show up almost every game, which is exactly what you want to see.
“It also gives the team and the dugout a lot of really good energy. That’s what you’re looking for. When you see guys playing the game like that around you, it fires you up. And we’ve got a bunch of guys doing that.”
One player in particular is rookie Luke Keaschall, who singled, drew two walks, stole two bases and scored two runs in the series-opening win. The highly touted rookie out of Arizona State is hitting .357 (5-for-14) with two RBIs and three stolen bases in his first four games.
Baldelli said Keaschall’s hot start was not a fluke.
“Those are some really good, advanced at-bats,” Baldelli said. “He has a very good idea of what he’s doing. He’s got a good, short stroke to go with it.
“He’s young (22), and his career is early, but he doesn’t seem to get too big. He can put a good, direct swing on the ball and not try to do too much. He’s not working very hard to do it. He’s just very hard and short, and he barrels a lot of balls up.”
Meanwhile, the White Sox will look to bounce back after losing for the eighth time in their past nine games. They have scored three runs or less in all but one of those contests.
White Sox manager Will Venable said his hitters were close to stringing together more runs.
“We’ve just got to find a way to cash in,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.”
Venable praised rookie catcher Edgar Quero for his approach at the plate. Quero is hitting .368 (7-for-19) through the first six games of his big-league career.
“Every at-bat has been impressive from him,” Venable said. “He’s in control of the at-bat. He’s not trying to do too much. … You see a guy who has the intention to be aggressive but also doesn’t mind getting deep into counts.”
Twins right-hander David Festa (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his third start of the season on Wednesday. Through his first two games, he has struck out 10 in nine innings, giving up one unearned run and eight hits.
Festa has yet to face the White Sox in his career.
Chicago will turn to right-hander Bryse Wilson (0-0, 4.50 ERA) for his first start of the season. He has appeared in nine games out of the bullpen and has eight strikeouts in 12 innings.
Wilson, 27, is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in five career games against Minnesota. All of those appearances have come in relief.
–Field Level Media
