Simply Brilliant

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Staff and wire reports

CHICAGO — The Minnesota Twins came out swinging to provide their starter with ample run support Sunday afternoon, but right-hander Kyle Gibson only needed one run to get the job done.

The Greenfield native, once again, showcased his pitching mastery against the Chicago White Sox, fanning seven through 7⅔ scoreless innings to give the playoff-hopeful Twins a 7-0 victory.

Gibson won for the third time in four starts against Chicago as he outdueled White Sox ace Chris Sale, who had another bad start against the Twins. Gibson (10-10) gave up five hits and walked one, and Casey Fien and Michael Tonkin followed with hitless relief.

Sale (12-9) lasted three innings and dropped to 1-4 with a 7.36 ERA in six starts against the Twins this year. He allowed six runs and struck out three, raising his AL-leading total to 250.

In his career, Gibson is 4-0 against the White Sox with a 2.13 ERA and 10 runs allowed in 42 1/3 innings. He improved to 3-0 versus Chicago this season.

It’s Gibson’s fifth scoreless start of the season — the most among Twins starters. It’s the first time since April 26 and May 1 that the 27-year-old has worked back-to-back starts of at least seven innings.

“The offense did a great job today, and they made me a little more comfortable out there,” Gibson told MLB.com reporters. “When you have cushion, you can go out there, pound the zone first pitch and not have to worry about a solo homer beating you. So it was a good team win for us.”

The Greenfield-Central High School graduate was in search of his first win since Aug. 28 at Target Field against the Houston Astros. Prior to earning his first of two wins in four starts, Gibson went seven consecutive outings without a victory.

On Sept. 8, he pitched eight innings but suffered the loss after giving up four earned runs. As he did against Houston, however, Gibson was brilliant, holding opposing batters to five hits or less.

“(Gibson) had super sink going, I know that,” White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers told MLB.com reporters. “He seemed to have pretty good command of his changeup-split thing. He was doing a good job working that off his sinker. He threw enough breaking balls in there for strikes. Some guys chased them late. He’s always been a pretty good pitcher.”

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Minnesota Twins’ Kyle Gibson continued his pitching mastery against the Chicago White Sox, surrendering zero runs in 7 2/3 innings Sunday for his 10th win this season. The Greenfield-Central graduate’s pitching line against the White Sox as well as for the season:

GM/YR;IP;H;R;ER;BB;SO;HR;ERA;W-L

Sunday;7.2;5;0;0;1;7;0;0.00;1-0

Season;179.2;170;79;74;58;126;16;3.71;10-10

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