Dozier homers twice, Twins beat White Sox 6-4

Minnesota Twins’ Max Kepler (26) is put out at first by Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Migue …

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – With 12 years in the major leagues under his belt, Ervin Santana has learned to remain calm on the mound. Rumors have been swirling about the future of a number of the Twins’ veterans.

Brian Dozier homered twice to support Santana’s six innings as Minnesota beat the Chicago White Sox 6-4.

Chicago’s Melky Cabrera tied the game in the ninth with an RBI single, one inning after Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar gave Minnesota a 5-4 lead with a three-run homer.

“Sleep – a lot”, he said. “You’re not going to throw strikes, that’s what makes it tougher”. Shuck couldn’t find the handle on it. Shuck made a good throw home, but Navarro dropped the ball while applying the tag.

Minnesota’s defense committed four errors Sunday against Chicago, shortening Santana’s day as his pitch count rose. Ervin Santana permitted three runs, just one earned, in six innings as he moved to 4-and-9.

With both Brandon Kintzler and Fernando Abad unavailable after working three straight games, Ryan Pressly worked the ninth for his first career save in four chances.

“I just try to not think about it”, he said with a smile. “He knew that he wasn’t going to be in there tomorrow”.

Santana has allowed more than two earned runs just once in his last eight starts, but is just 3-2 in that span. Starting pitching is seemingly scarce among potential trading partners, but Twins interim general manager Rob Antony has said he’s willing to hold on to Santana, who has two years remaining on the four-year, $55 million contract he signed prior to last season.

“Extra innings is tough”, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. Every infielder but first baseman Kennys Vargas was charged with an error.

“Hopefully everyone’s nice like they always have been to me in Minnesota, ” he had said. “He’s doing his thing right now, it’s fun to watch”. It wasn’t quite enough for Chicago, though, which fell to 23-30 on the road.

NOTES: Before Sunday’s game, the White Sox traded LHP Zach Duke to St. Louis in exchange for OF Charlie Tilson.

“Nolasco was throwing a good game, and when you saw that, it was trying to keep it close”, said Quintana, who has earned no-decisions in quality starts his last two times out. “I’ve got to do a better job of making my pitch with two outs there”.

“I’m still here today”, Santana said. He reached when Jose Abreu failed to make a play at first. Two innings later, Morneau hit his second homer of the season when his blast cleared the wall in right field. Their last four-error game in defeat was September 20, 2013 at Oakland, an 11-0 loss en route to a 96-loss finish. The Sox scored another run in the eighth on a fielding error by Polanco. “It just seemed like we were chasing stuff all night”. David Robertson pitched a flawless 10th to convert his 25th save and snap a three-game losing streak for the White Sox, who are 51-53. He also walked two.

Rosario was filling in defensively for Byron Buxton, who exited the game after the second inning with right knee soreness. He’ll have an MRI on Monday. He batted fifth as the designated hitter for the White Sox on Friday. Shields pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs in his last outing. He is scheduled to pitch Monday, but RHP Tyler Duffey is now slated as the Twins’ starter for that day…. Duffey will transfer to the bullpen.