The Minnesota Twins’ Labor Day matchup against the Chicago White Sox felt like a snapshot of everything that’s gone sideways this season. It was a sloppy, error-filled contest that slipped away late. What should’ve been a bounce-back against one of baseball’s worst teams ended up as the Twins’ third straight loss to the South Siders. Defensive lapses, shaky pitching, and wasted chances all combined for a 6-5 defeat at Target Field.
Fans at least saw some flashes from Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis, and Matt Wallner. Still, Minnesota’s inability to close out games just keeps haunting them.
Defensive Miscues and Questionable Execution
From the start, both teams looked shaky in the field. The Twins made mistakes that stretched out innings and directly gave the White Sox extra chances to score.
One of the bigger blunders came from Byron Buxton in center. He misjudged a diving catch, missed it, and suddenly Chicago had a rally brewing.
Brooks Lee’s Redemption Story
Rookie Brooks Lee had a night that went all over the place. He got charged with a throwing error early but later threw out a White Sox runner at home, keeping things close.
Lee didn’t stop there—he came through with an RBI hit, showing some grit and a bit of what the Twins hope to see from him down the road.
Pitching Woes Continue for the Twins
Bailey Ober started and struggled again. He gave up four runs in five innings, including two homers—one to Colson Montgomery and another to Chase Meidroth.
Ober’s in a rough stretch, with this outing marking his 12th loss in his last 13 starts. It’s wild how quickly a promising season can unravel.
The Eighth-Inning Collapse
The bullpen couldn’t bail them out. Justin Topa came in to protect a slim lead in the eighth but gave up back-to-back doubles that brought in the tying and go-ahead runs.
Manager Rocco Baldelli looked pretty frustrated after another game that slipped away late because of relief pitching.
Byron Buxton’s Historic Streak
If there was a bright spot, it was Buxton’s hot streak with the bat. He drove in two runs for the fifth straight game, joining Harmon Killebrew and Paul Molitor as the only Twins to ever do that.
Buxton found ways to produce—a run-scoring double here, aggressive base-running there. The guy’s got a knack for making things happen when he’s right.
Buxton as a Catalyst
One highlight: Buxton doubled to the gap, moved up on a wild pitch, and sprinted home when a throw went wild. When he’s healthy, he changes the whole vibe—dangerous bat, always a threat on the bases.
But even with all that, his spark wasn’t enough to stop the White Sox rally late.
Offensive Contributions Across the Lineup
Royce Lewis kept building his case as one of Minnesota’s most exciting young players, crushing his 10th home run of the year. Matt Wallner chipped in with a bloop double that set up another run.
Lee’s RBI knock rounded out the scoring. The bats are there—it’s just the execution in crunch time that’s missing.
Falling to a Struggling Opponent
The most aggravating part? The White Sox came in with a brutal 50-88 record, yet now they’ve taken three straight from Minnesota.
Baldelli summed it up after the game: it’s not about talent on paper. Closing out games is what matters, and lately, the Twins just haven’t done it.
What’s Next for Minnesota?
With playoff hopes gone, these last weeks are really about salvaging pride. The team also needs to see what its young guys can do.
Fans might catch bright moments from Lewis, Wallner, and Lee. Still, the club has to figure out its bullpen and sharpen up on defense if it wants to compete next year.
- Final Score: White Sox 6, Twins 5
- Key Performer: Byron Buxton — 2 RBIs, 1 run manufactured
- Turning Point: Eighth-inning doubles off Justin Topa
- Historical Note: Buxton joins Killebrew and Molitor with five straight multi-RBI games
The Labor Day loss wasn’t just another mark in the standings. It really showed how closing out games takes more than just talent—it’s about execution and discipline, too.
Here is the source article for this story: White Sox rally to beat Twins 6-5 in game with plenty of up-and-down action
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