MINNEAPOLIS — Like most of the American League, the Minnesota Twins have had their share of difficulties with Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale.

So when they finally had a chance to get to him early on Thursday, they didn’t let it go to waste.

Brian Dozier had a homer and four RBIs and the Twins roughed up Sale in a 12-2 victory over the White Sox.

Trevor May (2-1) gave up two runs on 10 hits and struck out four in 5 2-3 innings and the Twins knocked Sale out of the game with a seven-run third inning.

“He had good stuff,” Dozier said. “He was pumping 97 in there. I just think he got a little frustrated when he started getting runners on in scoring position. Then he started leaving some stuff out over the middle of the plate.”

Joe Mauer added three hits and two RBIs for Minnesota (10-12).

Sale (2-1) gave up a career-high nine runs — eight earned — on nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks in just three innings. Melky Cabrera had two hits and an RBI for the White Sox, who were coming off an unsettling three days in Baltimore that saw two games postponed and one played in an empty stadium because of rioting in the city.

The White Sox (8-11) looked to be in sort of a fog all over the diamond on Thursday night after the bizarre stay in Baltimore.

They made two errors in the first three innings while the Twins dinked and dunked their way through Sale’s offerings. Kurt Suzuki, Shane Robinson and Eduardo Escobar had bloop hits for RBIs to put the Twins in front and Dozier struck the big blow with a three-run blast deep into the left field seats to give them a 9-2 lead.

It was just the third home run Sale has allowed in 18 career appearances against the Twins. Dozier has hit all three.

“I didn’t put guys away when I should have or had the chance,” Sale said. “Hitting is contagious. You give a team like that energy, and they’re going to roll with it. And that’s what they did.”

Sale had never given up nine runs in a game. He allowed eight twice in 2013, with his worst start going 4 1-3 innings of a loss to Cleveland on April 13 of that year.

“You’ve got to play the games,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “They don’t always turn out the way they might appear heading into a game.”

MAY BOUNCES BACK

May showed no hesitation or ill effects coming off of a start in which he was knocked out early when a ball off the bat of Seattle’s Kyle Seager struck him on the right elbow. He said he felt no issues with his elbow and settled in quickly.

“I got really lucky, I think,” May said. “I can only feel anything if I really push on it. I’m fortunate to continue on with the program after a thing like that. I’m happy.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: GM Terry Ryan said RHP Ricky Nolasco (elbow) is on track to be activated from the 15-day disabled list in time to start on Saturday against the White Sox. Nolasco made one rehab start after going on the disabled list on April 9 with elbow inflammation. LHP Tommy Milone will be moved to a long role in the bullpen to make room for Nolasco in the rotation. … Ryan also said RHP Phil Hughes showed no ill effects after leaving his last start with discomfort in his hip and will make his next start on Monday.

UP NEXT

The White Sox send LHP Jose Quintana (1-1, 6.55) to the mound for Game 2 against Minnesota RHP Kyle Gibson (1-2, 4.84). Quintana allowed two runs in seven innings of a no decision against Kansas City in his last start and is 3-2 with a 4.40 ERA in 10 career starts against the Twins. Gibson is 1-0 with a 4.26 ERA in three starts against the Sox in his career.