MINNEAPOLIS – Any manager would prefer to hand the ball to a starting pitcher and watch him dominate for nine innings.

However, that’s not always possible, which is why managing the bullpen becomes such a key responsibility. On Wednesday, Will Venable got an intensive lesson in bullpen strategy as the White Sox fell to the Twins by a score of 6-3.

With the White Sox facing a grueling stretch of one day off in a span of 27 games, Venable decided to give his starters an extra day of rest, leading to a heavy workload for the bullpen. The night started with Bryse Wilson, who had started 52 games in his eight-year MLB career, but hadn’t pitched in relief since June 2024.

Wilson managed to battle through 2 2/3 innings, allowing just one run before being pulled with two outs in the third. Despite facing trouble throughout, including a bases-loaded situation in the first inning that was wiped away by a Carlos Correa double play, Wilson managed to minimize the damage with key outs. In the second inning, he escaped another bases-loaded situation by striking out the dangerous Byron Buxton.

Things got tense again in the third as Wilson walked two batters to start the inning. However, Correa helped out with another double play, giving Wilson a chance to escape. Unfortunately, after a Ty France RBI single and a subsequent Ryan Jeffers single, Wilson’s night was over.

Wilson credited his bullpen experience for helping him stay composed during the challenging moments.

“Staying calm is key, especially when you’re in situations like that,” Wilson said. “Having been in the bullpen before, you get used to those moments where you need to focus and not let the pressure get to you. Just try to get that next out and get out of the jam.”

Venable proceeded to call on six more pitchers throughout the game, utilizing nearly every available arm to help cover the innings. Some relievers were more effective than others. For example, Brandon Eisert managed to escape the jam Wilson left him, but struggled in the following inning, giving up a leadoff double and an RBI single to Trevor Larnach. Penn Murfee had a similar experience, stranding a runner left by Wilson before allowing a walk and two singles of his own, prompting a pitching change in the fifth.

Steven Wilson and Jared Shuster were the only two White Sox pitchers who kept the Twins scoreless. Wilson inherited a difficult two-on, no-out situation from Murfee and struck out the side, while Shuster retired the final four batters in order. By the time Shuster entered, the Twins had already established a 6-3 lead, thanks to Larnach’s go-ahead solo homer in the sixth and a two-run shot by Buxton off Cam Booser in the seventh.

Larnach’s homer was a particularly close call. He connected with an inside fastball, sending it down the right-field line, and the ball barely cleared the 23-foot wall before it had a chance to hook foul.

“It could have easily gone foul,” Leasure said. “I thought it might hit the wall, but the wind pushed it out. That’s just how the game goes.”

Despite the loss, Venable and his staff were satisfied with the efforts put forth.

“We knew we’d be relying heavily on the bullpen, and we had to push a few guys, like Leasure and Cam, to keep us in the game and give us a shot,” Venable explained. “We did everything we could to stay competitive without jeopardizing tomorrow’s bullpen.”

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