MINNEAPOLIS — Austin Jackson settled for a two-run single after missing a grand slam by inches, and Jose Quintana pitched six innings of one-run ball to lead the White Sox to a 4-1 victory Monday afternoon, dropping the Minnesota Twins to 0-7 on the day of their home opener at Target Field.
The Twins’ 0-7 start is their worst ever. The Sox, meanwhile, improved to 5-2 for the first time since 2012 and to 4-1 on the road for the first time since 2005. They had lost nine of their last 11 games at Target Field.
Brett Lawrie pushed a grounder past Twins right-hander Kyle Gibson and through the middle of the Twins’ drawn-in infield to score Todd Frazier from third base in the second inning for the game’s first run. Jackson, the ninth-place hitter batting with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth, missed hitting the left-field foul pole by inches. After a discussion by the umpires, Jackson singled to center field to score two runs and give the Sox a 3-0 lead.
Quintana (1-0) escaped a runners-on-second-and-third with no outs situation with one run allowed in the fourth and finished with six innings pitched, four hits and three walks allowed while striking out five.
Matt Albers pitched a scoreless seventh to extend his scoreless appearance streak to 24 (covering 27 1/3 innings dating to last season). Albers gave up a leadoff single to Eduardo Escobar, then scampered off the mound to glove Kurt Suzuki’s attempt for a bunt single that was popped up between the mound and third-base line, whirled and threw to first to double off Escobar.
Todd Frazier doubled in a cushion run in the ninth, scoring Jose Abreu from first when left fielder Eddie Rosario let the ball get by him along the side wall.
Zach Duke and Nate Jones combined on a perfect eighth and David Robertson pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in as many chances.
Tuesday is an off day, with the three-game series continuing Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon.
