White Sox 5, Twins 2: Ramirez paves way to rare road series victory

Bullet points, because I'm supposed to be on vacation:

*If Alexei Ramirez wants to be an offense-first shortstop now, I don't think anybody will complain. He delivered three run-scoring hits over the first five innings -- an RBI single in the first, an RBI double in the third, and a solo homer in the fifth.

*Avisail Garcia had a two-double game -- the first of which drove in Ramirez after the aforementioned RBI double, and another one in the fifth. Jeff Keppinger cashed him in with a single to extend the lead to 5-2, which is where the score would stay.

*The White Sox rattled Sad Samuel Deduno pretty thoroughly -- eight hits (four for extra bases), three hit batsmen, and he even balked once.

*Hector Santiago kept it together, even though he wasn't the most efficient in victory. He allowed two runs (one unearned, thanks to a Dayan Viciedo throwing error that yielded an extra base) on nine hits and two walks over six innings.

A fortuitous bounce prevented a third run from being charged to his account. With Josh Willingham on third, Santiago held onto a fastball too long and bounced it past Josh Phegley's far glove-hand side. But the battle bounced off the limestone backdrop and gave Phegley a chance to get the throw back to the plate. The flip hit Santiago as he slid into home just before Willingham, planting the tag on Willingham's foot before he could touch the plate. Credit C.B. Bucknor with a great call, something that isn't said often.

*Santiago started the sixth with a 5-2 lead and 104 pitches on his arm. Wilkin Ramirez complicated matters when he hit a double on the sixth pitch to start the inning. Santiago settled down and retired the next three batters on six pitches combined, finishing with a 116-pitch quality start.

*Matt Lindstrom provided a one-man bridge to the closer with two scoreless innings (four strikeouts), and Addison Reed pitched around a leadoff walk for his third save in as many days.

Record: 49-74 | Box score | Play-by-play | Highlights