MINNEAPOLIS -- Powered by a seven-run third inning, the Minnesota Twins rolled to a 12-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday at Target Field.

The Twins did most of their damage off lefty Chris Sale, who allowed more runs -- nine -- than he had in any of his previous 89 major league starts.

Right-hander Trevor May (2-1) was the beneficiary of the offensive support. May wasn't great, allowing 10 hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings, but he limited the damage to two runs. He struck out four.

Twins first baseman Joe Mauer had three hits and knocked in two runs, and second baseman Brian Dozier added two hits and four RBIs.

Sale (2-1) gave up eight earned runs on nine hits and two walks with four strikeouts in three innings.

With the game tied 2-2, the Twins began their big inning with a double and a walk ahead of an RBI single by catcher Kurt Suzuki for a 3-2 lead.

A two-run single two batters later by left fielder Eduardo Escobar made it 5-2 and Escobar advanced to third on a throwing error by White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton. Escobar scored on Shane Robinson's single to right.

After a single by shortstop Danny Santana, Dozier provided the big blow, a three-run homer to make it 9-2.

A bloop single by Mauer scored one to give the Twins a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

Dozier singled in a run in the second before back-to-back RBI singles by left fielder Melky Cabrera and first baseman Jose Abreu tied the game for Chicago in the top of the third.

The Twins added to their lead in the eighth on a two-run double by pinch hitter Chris Herrmann and an RBI single by Mauer.

NOTES: White Sox SS Alexei Ramirez hit second in the lineup and went 2-for-5. Ramirez, who entered the game with a .194 average, is a .277 career hitter in the No. 2 hole. He spent much of this season hitting seventh and eighth. ... Twins RHP Casey Fien was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder soreness. Minnesota recalled RHP Michael Tonkin from Triple-A Rochester. ... The White Sox and Twins play the second game of the four-game series Friday at Target Field. Chicago LHP Jose Quintana (1-1, 6.55 ERA) faces Minnesota RHP Kyle Gibson (1-2, 4.84 ERA).