After a slow start, Nick Gordon delivers the clutch again as the Twins win in 12

CHICAGO — After what happened during his previous appearance at the plate Thursday, Nick Gordon was hoping he’d have another chance to make an impact. When he did, the Twins utility man didn’t waste his chance.

After two innings in an unusual effort, Gordon helped the Twins end a frustratingly long day at the plate as a rally broke out. Gordon and Jorge Polanco had both scoring successes and the Twins avoided a series sweep with a 7-3 12-inning victory over the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Gordon doubled in an inning, and Polanco later singled two more during a five-run rally for the Twins, whose batters issued five intentional walks as they successfully navigated their way through Chicago’s lineup for five innings.

“When something like (coming out) happens and then you get another chance, it feeds you,” Gordon said. “I was definitely thinking about that. I definitely wanted to redeem myself and put us in a better position. I just couldn’t get the job done there. I definitely didn’t want to do it twice.”

Given the choice, the Twins may prefer to take a different path to victory than the one they used on Thursday. Although they got the job done, nothing came easy on Thursday.

White Sox starter Lucas Giolito frustrated the Twins hitters all over, widening the area against his four-seam, slider fastball. He hit Giolito at least three times through five scoreless innings and was hit only by a Carlos Correa solo homer in the sixth inning, a blowout that extended the team’s franchise home run streak to 16 games.

When Byron Buxton hit a close-running penalty off Reynaldo Lopez with two outs in the eighth inning, it represented the Twins’ third hit of the game. They wouldn’t get another until Gordon doubled in the 12th, over 15 batters.

Gordon was part of the silent crime sprawl. Leading off the tenth inning with robot runner Willie Castro at second base, Gordon was asked to sacrifice the runner. He struck out and the inning ended two strikes later when Corea’s strong hopper resulted in a double play.

But with the Twins bullpen evading and the Dodger working its way through Chicago’s lineup, Gordon got another chance. This time he came in to hit a run on a Tim Anderson error, two aboard on the 12th and inseparable. Facing left-hander Sammy Peralta, in his major league debut, Gordon tore a four-seam fastball toward the hole at left center. Although quarterback Louis Robert Jr. was on the move, his rushing effort wasn’t enough to prevent Gordon’s 104.5 mph streak from finding the turf for the scoring double and a 4-2 lead.

“It was a very meaningful moment for the game and perhaps for him personally,” said coach Rocco Baldelli. “You need somebody to get up there and line up somewhere, just do a better job than the pitcher. And that’s hard. Hard to do. Get up there and hit it hard, make the gap. And then it’s on.”

Was it ever.

After struggling with runners in scoring position in the first two games of the series, the Twins held the game open. Correa followed with a walk off Max Kepler with a scoring run to make it 5-2. Then Jorge Polanco picked two more rounds to put the contest out of reach.

Gordon’s weakness was his third highlight of the series and is another sign that he may be on the brink of collapse after a rocky start to the season. The most improved player on the team in 2022, Gordon had started at 6-for-52 until last Wednesday despite a fair amount of hard contact.

Sports Info Solutions’ research suggested that Gordon’s connection should have resulted in eight extra strikeouts. Instead of hitting . 269, Gordon was hitting . 115 with a . 324 OPS. Despite his struggles and a good amount of bad luck, Gordon remained centered in the cage with the Twins’ hitting coaches.

And the work has paid off since Sunday, when Gordon made one run and chased another. He hit a solo homer in Tuesday night’s loss and gave the Twins a short-lived lead with a homer in Wednesday’s loss.

“He’s been working hard to get a good rhythm and be able to help us win games,” said Correa. “He didn’t start the way he wanted to start, but he sure was working and getting better every day. You’ve seen it in this series. He gave us some big punches and he’s the reason we won this game.”

The key as always, Gordon said, is a positive mindset. Although Robert is super fast and nearly runs down Gordon’s line, the 2014 Twins first baseman mostly thought the ball wasn’t going to be caught despite his previous bad luck.

“I know I did really well, so I knew he was going to have to put on a great play,” Gordon said. “Thank God he got over it.”

Souvenirs with Carlos

Speaking to reporters before Thursday’s game, Corea was asked if he had heard comments made late Wednesday by White Sox assistant Keynan Middleton, who hit the shortstop to end the game and subsequently called him a “cheater.”

“I’ve heard worse,” Correa said. “I’m glad he’s doing well and he’s playing well and he can take care of his family. He’s obviously tough. He’s getting better and that’s why he’s promoting high leverage positions for them. I’m glad he’s back here again performing and providing for his family.”

A key member of the 2017 Houston Astros, disdain for players and fan bases is nothing new to Korea.

White Sox reliever Joe Kelly threw Correa and Astros teammate Alex Bregman in 2020, earning the pitcher an eight-game suspension that was reduced to five. Opposing fans are also constantly showering Correa with “cheat” chants for his involvement in an electronic sign theft scandal that rocked Major League Baseball.

A pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels from 2017-21, Middleton pinned Correa without a call.

“I knew I was going to take on Correa, and I don’t like him. It was kind of cool,” Middleton said. “I like it. I enjoyed it a lot. … I mean, he’s a cheat. “

After congratulating Middleton on his return to the major leagues, Correa almost gave him a keepsake as well. The shortstop’s sixth inning landed in the stands above the covered portion of the bowling alley where White Sox relievers often sit.

The late turn strategy is paying off

Baldelli’s tactics late in the game provided a clear picture of how badly he wanted to win on Thursday and avoid a series sweep. Not only did batters unsuccessfully attempt several sacrifice plays in the extra innings, but the Twins’ pitching staff tied a club record with five intentional walks.

Starting with Joan Duran’s free pass to Robert in the eighth inning, the Twins’ relievers intentionally walked four straight runs. Robert had two intentional walks as the Twins clearly favored facing Hanser Alberto at the critical points. Andrew Benintendi took part in the tenth and twelfth rounds to face sprinter Billy Hamilton instead.

Eloy Jiménez caught the other free pass.

“Winning was a must for us, especially going to Cleveland,” said Correa. “We wanted to make sure we got that and we did.”

The trick worked perfectly as the hitters were retired behind every free present, including three strikeouts.

Twins reliever allowed an unearned run in five runs. Emilio Pagan, who scored the win with a brace in a goalless 11th-place finish, issued the final free pass as Baldelli singled Hamilton over Benintende with a two-goal lead and runner-up finish. Pagan hit Hamilton to send him into the 12th inning.

“You have to manage the lineup and they definitely have some players you don’t want to let beat you, especially in this situation,” Pagan said. “It’s great that he’s shown his confidence that we can hit the zone when we have to.”

Veteran reliever Brock Stewart faced the biggest challenge as Baldelli had him intentionally load the bases with one out in the tenth inning. With Jiménez leading, Baldelli elected to walk with him and hit Stuart Anderson. Robert was walked to load the bases but Stewart hit Alonso and Andros for leaving them loaded.

“We’re not looking for situations to do that at all and put people on a pedestal,” Baldelli said. “It makes it more difficult for the relievers in a way. They really have to step up and I think it’s a good challenge for them when we put them in those places. Today I think it makes sense to do that and the guys have responded well. … We’ll intentionally walk as many players as possible, to win a ball game.”

The five free passes were twice shy of the American League record of seven set by the New York Yankees in 1933 and the California Angels in 1962.

(Photo of Gordon after hitting a home run Tuesday: Kamil Krzaczynski/USA Today)