CHICAGO — Thanks to Taj Bradley channeling “eff you” mode, the Minnesota Twins got a good victory on top of great news about All-Star Joe Ryan.Bradley shook off a rough first inning Saturday night and dialed up the intensity, which afforded his team a chance to rally. The Twins took advantage of Bradley’s early-game surge as the offense dialed it up a notch as well in a hard-fought 6-4 win over the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field.Ryan Jeffers belted a three-run homer and Luke Keaschall and Kaelen Culpepper scored twice each in support of Bradley, who completed five innings after allowing a pair of first-inning homers.Hours after learning Ryan is close to rejoining the team, the Twins rallied for their 31st comeback win to move to within 3 1/2 games of Cleveland in the wild-card race and six behind first-place Chicago in the American League Central.
YESSIRRRR RYAN pic.twitter.com/827pAHErZ1
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 6, 2026“That was just more of an aggressive Taj,” Bradley said. “I was mad as hell about all of that other s—, so I just took it out on the mound. Just maintained controlled aggression. I think that’s my best style of pitching, just throw some ‘eff you’ at the (batters).”During spring training, Bradley identified shaking off adversity as one of his biggest development priorities. Throughout the season, the pitcher’s biggest hardship has been his first-inning performance.The same held in what felt like a must-win contest Saturday night when Bradley surrendered two long balls and fell behind 3-0. White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami hit a towering two-run homer to left, a fly ball that kept going over the short porch to put Chicago in front. Two batters later, Colson Montgomery blistered a solo homer to right to put the White Sox up 3-0.The outing gives Bradley, who has an overall 3.95 ERA, a 6.75 ERA in the first inning this season.But Bradley wouldn’t let the slow start sink him.Beginning with a Braden Montgomery foul out to the catcher, Bradley overpowered the White Sox for 10 straight hitters through the end of the fourth inning.
