CHICAGO – About the only thing Jonathan Schoop hasn’t done lately is get steady playing time.
That could change if he stays this hot at the plate.
Schoop hit two homers and drove in four runs, Mitch Garver also connected and the slugging Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 8-2 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight win.
The 27-year-old Schoop has five homers in his last five starts, a streak that goes back to Aug. 16. During that span, he didn’t get off the bench in six other games.
“I just try to go to the cage and stay fresh, hit the gym and make the body stronger,” he said. “When I see my name in the lineup, I just go out there and enjoy the game and play hard.
“I hope I can keep it up. I feel really good right now.”
It was the 13th multihomer game of Schoop’s career and fifth this year. He has 21 home runs on the season to become the seventh Minnesota player with at least 20, tying a major league record.
The feat had been done by seven previous teams, most recently the 2018 Dodgers. The Twins can claim the record outright if Jorge Polanco — who has 19 — hits another homer.
The AL Central leaders are 30 games over .500 (81-51) for the first time since Sept. 25, 2010, when they were 92-62. Minnesota has won a season-high six straight games on the road.
Jose Abreu and Matt Skole each drove a run in for Chicago.
Jake Odorizzi (14-6) allowed two runs and five hits in six effective innings. He walked two and struck out eight. The right-hander had dropped his last start to the White Sox on Aug. 21 in Minnesota, allowing four runs (three earned) and eight hits in five innings.
Ross Detwiler (2-4) gave up five runs and six hits in four innings.
Dodgers 6, Padres 4 (10)
In San Diego, Mike Hernandez scored the tiebreaking run on shortstop Luis Urias’ throwing error with two outs in the 10th and Los Angeles triumphed over the Padres after Kenley Jansen blew his seventh save on a wild pitch in the ninth.
The Dodgers’ magic number for clinching their seventh straight NL West title is down to nine. They took two of three from the Padres after losing two of three to the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium last weekend.
Kirby Yates (0-5) got two outs in the 10th before walking Hernandez, who stole second. Urias made a tough, short-hop pickup of a ball hit sharply by Russell Martin, but then overthrew first base for an error that allowed Hernandez to score. A.J. Pollock added an RBI single.
Los Angeles starter Kenta Maeda got a no-decision after pitching five innings and allowing two hits and two runs. He walked three and struck out three.
Reds 5, Marlins 0
In Miami, Aristides Aquino tied a National League rookie mark with his 13th home run this month, powering Anthony DeSclafani and Cincinnati over the Marlins.
Aquino hit a three-run shot in the first. The 24-year-old outfielder matched the NL homer mark for rookies in a month set by Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers in June 2017.
The major league rookie record for homers in a month is 18 by Rudy York of Detroit in August 1937.
Nationals 8, Orioles 4
In Washington, Max Scherzer struck out eight to reach the 200 mark for an eighth straight season, Kurt Suzuki homered and drove in four runs and the Nationals topped Baltimore.
Scherzer allowed two runs and six hits over 4⅓ innings. Wander Suero (5-7) followed Scherzer as Washington won for the sixth time in seven games.
The MLB record for consecutive 200-strikeout seasons is nine, set by Tom Seaver from 1968 to 1976.
Rangers 3, Angels 0
In Anaheim, Ariel Jurado pitched six innings of two-hit ball to earn his second victory since June, and Delino DeShields reached over the center-field fence to make a spectacular homer-stealing catch as Texas beat Los Angeles.
Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani went 1-for-4. He’s now batting .297.
In Other Games
Yankees 7, Mariners 3
Phillies 12, Pirates 3
Red Sox 7, Rockies 4
Brewers 4, Cardinals 1
Indians 4, Tigers 2
Braves 9, Blue Jays 4
Cubs 10, Mets 7
Royals 6, Athletics 4
Astros 8, Rays 6
Indians 4, Tigers 2
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Source : Baseball – The Japan Times