White Sox stink it up in Minnesota again in 13-2 rout

MINNEAPOLIS – The White Sox have lost nine of 11 games, they’re probably out of time and they’re running out of things to say, too.

Their latest loss, an 13-2 thrashing from the Minnesota Twins Monday at Target Field that opened a nine-game road trip, included three errors in the field and only a pair of runs despite a hefty collection of 11 hits, in part because of three outs made on the bases, was thorough in all phases.

“I stunk,’’ said pitcher John Danks, who gave up three home runs and nine runs (five earned).

That sized up the pitching, which also included four hits allowed, a walk and a throwing error by Scott Carroll and a homer given up by Junior Guerra that gave the Twins a season high four jacks in one game (Joe Mauer, Eduardo Nunez, Kennys Vargas, Brian Dozier).

“Our defense has absolutely sucked,’’ broadcaster Ken Harrelson declared to viewers after Alexei Ramirez picked up a routine double play ground ball but threw high and wide past second baseman Carlos Sanchez to open the gates in the Twins’ five-run fourth.

“They just outplayed us,’’ said manager Robin Ventura, whose team left 10 runners on base.

The Sox (30-39) have Jeff Samardzija and Chris Sale pitching Tuesday and Wednesday, so being in position to win a series seems reasonable, but the way the Sox hit and play defense, don’t hold your breath.

“It is what it is,’’ Danks said of Ramirez’s botching of the double play ball hit by Trevor Plouffe in the fourth. “It wasn’t for a lack of trying, lack of care. Just the game of baseball. That play had no bearing on any pitches after that. It was my job to pick him up and I didn’t do it. That play had no bearing on the [Twins’ five-run] sixth inning, either. That’s not why we lost the game.’’

“You tip your cap to them and you move on,’’ Ventura said.

The Sox were built to play meaningful games in September but they seem to be playing meaningless games in June.

“Right now we’re just not finding a way to win the game, make the plays to win the game, getting the knocks to win the game,” said Beckham, who had a good night in the field at third base but made the first out of the fourth at second base trying to stretch a bloop single into two bases.

Ramirez, 33, the defending Silver Slugger Award winning shortstop who had two hits to raise his average to .227, has eight errors in what is shaping up as the worst season of his career.

“You have to understand that this is a tough season, a long season and you have to keep the confidence,’’ Melky Cabrera, keeping the faith, said before the game. “Work hard, never give up and do the best you can every day. We have a lot of talent.’’

Ventura cited Cabrera (.248) for not letting the poor start offensively – he has nine extra-base hits after getting 54 for the Blue Jays last season – affect his defense. Cabrera was charged with an error he didn’t deserve when he sent Torii Hunter sprawling to the ground by hitting him on the chest with a throw from near the left field line. Hunter bluffed tagging up and was returning to third when Ramirez, the cutoff man, spun out of the way as the ball hit Hunter in the chest.

Twins starter Tommy Milone (4-1) scattered 10 hits over six innings, one a two-run single by Adam LaRoche in the third. LaRoche had his first multiple-RBI game since May 28.

Signed to a two-year, $25 million deal as a free agent to be the Sox cleanup man, LaRoche has 27 RBI.

“We’re just not finding the way to do it.”