Twins beat White Sox 8-5, sweep series
The Minnesota Twins have all but locked up the AL Central division title after beating their closest competitor, the Chicago White Sox, 8-5 Thursday night.
After getting on top early with a three run effort in the second inning the Twins never looked back. Chicago closed the gap with a home run in the third inning and RBI single in the fourth. Minnesota responded with another three-run inning, this time in the
fifth inning to make the score 6-2 after five innings.
Chicago threatened again in the bottom half of the sixth inning when they scored three runs to close the gap down to 6-5. The Twins tacked on another pair of runs in the top of the ninth to give starter Carl Pavano some breathing room.
"If you want to put distance between yourselves and somebody, that's what you have to do – you have to win the series against them," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "And for us, we came in here and did a heck of a job against them."
Pavano only pitched five innings, his shortest outing in over a month; he worked into the sixth inning but failed to record an out. He ended up allowing eight hits and five earned runs while walking two and striking out one; three of his hits ended up being
home runs.
The win brought him one game closer to matching his career high in wins. It’s also the second time this season that he has given up three home runs in a single game.
Ever since the All-Star break, the Twins have been on fire winning 42 games and losing just 16, the best second half record in the league. The Twins are enjoying being in control of their own destiny as they get closer and closer to wining their third division
title in three years.
"In the past we had to chase down the leader," Twins first baseman Michael Cuddyer said of the division race. "Here the last week or so we've been trying to chase down the magic number.”
With the win the Twins improved to 88-58 on the season and increased their lead over the White Sox to a nearly insurmountable nine games. Minnesota also won the season series between the two teams. 13-5.
The Twins go home to start a six-game home stand starting with a three game series with the Oakland Athletics. Nick Blackburn is scheduled to take the mound on Friday against Brett Anderson for the Athletics.
Blackburn has done well since returning to the starting rotation from the disabled list in late August. Since then he is 2-1 with 1.78 ERA over four starts.
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