In David Festa’s third start of the season, he worked a fairly uneventful first inning, allowing one baserunner but promptly picking him off to end the frame.

Festa’s bat-missing ability and sheer stuff at the back end of an injury-weakened Twins rotation has been a balm for the last two-plus weeks.

The Twins faced pitcher Bryse Wilson, who had a few issues getting ahead in the count.

Edouard Julien,  Luke Keaschall and Trevor Larnach combined to load the bases with only one out.

All three players were stranded, though, as another Correa line drive landed in a defender’s glove for a double play to end the inning. It seems like even when Correa does something right, this year, it goes wrong.

The White Sox threatened in the top of the second, with two outs, After a leadoff walk to Chicago rookie Edgar Quero, Miguel Vargas hit a two-out single to center field that sent Quero to third.

On a pop-up near the Twins’ dugout, though, Ty France made a fine catch to retire Brooks Baldwin and thwart the rally.

The bottom of the second was a maddening remix of the bottom of the first: flyout, double, flyout, hit batter, walk, all to bring up Byron Buxton with the bases loaded again.

Alas, Buxton was called out on strikes, and another chance went by the boards.

The Twins would leave 13 runners on base for the game.

Finally, in the third, the team managed to dent the scoreboard. Another Correa double play almost killed a promising rally, but an opposite-field single from Ty France brought home Luke Keaschall with the first run of the game.

Meanwhile, Festa seemed to settle in, striking out three and allowing just two hits in the third and fourth, combined

Julien started the fourth with his fifth double of the season, battling lefty Brandon Eisert. Buxton struck out, but Keaschall advanced Julien to third and Larnach brought him home with a single to center. Both lefties came in and made magic happen against a left-handed pitcher.

In the fifth, however, Festa hit a wall. He walked the eight-hitter and got entangled in a 10-pitch battle with pinch-hitter Bobby Dalbec, who eventually won that confrontation with a single.

Suddenly, his pitch count was elevated, the Twins’ lead was imperiled, and Rocco Baldelli went to his bullpen—only to find whatever the opposite of relief is.

In the hands of Cole Sands, the inning absolutely unraveled for the Twins. Sands walked Joshua Palacios, then uncorked a wild pitch that scored Baldwin and moved Dalbec to third.

A Texas Leaguer from frustrated would-be Tuesday hero Andrew Benintendi found the grass in front of Buxton, bringing home the tying run. One batter later, a Keaschall error allowed Palacios to score, and by the time the Twins stopped the bleeding, they were behind 3-2.

Thankfully, Twins hitters don’t seem to give up easily.

The bottom of the fifth was an instant answer, and the White Sox started to fall apart. France walked, Jeffers smacked a single to advance France, and a single by Brooks Lee scored France, with no outs and runners on first and second. The game was tied 3-3, The following inning, Larnach aimed a 9-iron well and gave the home team a 4-3 advantage.

Griffin Jax came out to the seventh, looking more confident after his stellar outing Tuesday night. Jax cruised through the frame, with two punchouts. He seems to be back on track.

The Twins got some much-needed insurance runs in the seventh. Harrison Bader walked, and with two outs, Buxton banged out a 414-foot, two-run homer for a 6-3 lead.

Keaschall continued to terrorize the White Sox pitching staff on the bases. After a plunking put him on base, the Sox had the audacity to attempt back-to-back pickoffs against him. With their disengagements used up, Keaschall was off on the next pitch, for his fifth steal in as many tries—and as many big-league games.

What’s Next? 

The Twins finish out the series at home with a day game. Chris Paddack (0-2; 7.27 ERA) will be taking the mound against Shane Smith (0-1; 2.82ERA) at 12:10 PM CST.