CHICAGO — There was little doubt, after the early innings of Monday’s game, who would be walking away victorious. Things got so out of hand, so early, that manager Rocco Baldelli pulled stars Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton after just three innings.
The only remaining intrigue in the later innings was whether the Chicago White Sox, led by journeyman starter Martín Pérez, would be able to pull off a combined no-hitter. Willi Castro ensured that wouldn’t happen, lining a single off rookie Mike Vasil to right field with two outs in the seventh inning.
But that did little to ease the sting of a 9-0 smackdown from the White Sox, expected to be, again, one of the worst teams in the major leagues this season, at Rate Field on Monday afternoon in the opener of a three-game series in Chicago.
Pérez threw six no-hit innings in his start. It wasn’t until the fourth that he allowed a baserunner, walking Ryan Jeffers with two outs. He struck out nine, matching his career high and left with his pitch count at 93, making way for Vasil, who was making his major league debut.
Castro’s single off Vasil, and a little squibber down the third base line from Jeffers that just stayed fair, were the only two hits for the Twins, whose offense has scored a combined six runs in four games.
A quiet day for the offense was combined with an ugly Chris Paddack start made for a lopsided loss.
Paddack, who hadn’t pitched in a game since July 14 because of an injury last season, allowed all nine White Sox runs — and all in the first three innings.
The starter gave up a three-run home run in the first inning and another in the second, marking the second consecutive day that a Twins starter had given up a pair of three-run blasts. Paddack allowed a third home run — a two-run blast to former Twin Michael A. Taylor — in the third inning.
He pitched into the fourth before an early hook.
The loss is the Twins’ fourth this season in as many games, and second that became noncompetitive early.
Andrew Benintendi #23 of the Chicago White Sox hits a three-run home run during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Rate Field on March 31, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. It was Benintendi’s 100th career home run. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Chicago, Monday, March 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Minnesota Twins’ Ty France throws his bat after being called out on strikes during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Monday, March 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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