Quentin helps White Sox top Twins, hold 1st place

[July 31, 2008]  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Carlos Quentin is a big reason Chicago has controlled the AL Central race this season, and he kept the White Sox in first place for at least a few more days with a home run and four RBIs in an 8-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

Gavin Floyd (11-6) held the Twins to one run and five hits over 7 2-3 innings, and Alexei Ramirez added a three-run homer. The White Sox, who stretched their division lead over Minnesota to 1 1/2 games, are 34-11 this year when homering two or more times and 55-23 when they connect once.

Livan Hernandez (10-8) allowed a solo shot to Quentin with two outs in the first, and the All-Star left fielder padded Chicago's lead with a three-run double in the fourth. Quentin, who has 83 RBIs and leads the league with 28 homers, also moved up a pair of runners with a long fly ball in the third inning before Jermaine Dye knocked one in with a sacrifice fly.

After losing their first four at the Metrodome this year, the White Sox bounced back in a big way. They've been in first for 102 days, continuously since May 17. The Twins were trying to get there for the first time since May 13.

Perfect through three innings, Floyd gave up an RBI double by Justin Morneau in the fourth but retired 12 of the next 13 batters. This was his longest of 12 starts since a complete game on May 23. In four outings against the Twins this year, Floyd is 3-1 with a 1.86 ERA -- including one gem in May when he was two outs from a no-hitter.

Hernandez dropped to 8-2 at the Metrodome this year after giving up nine hits, five runs and two walks. His 199 hits allowed are by far the most in the majors. He finished just four innings, throwing only 47 of his 80 pitches for strikes, and was replaced by Boof Bonser for the fifth.

Delmon Young's RBI double in the ninth against Bobby Jenks wasn't enough for Minnesota. Jenks gave up two runs.

Notes: Quentin is batting .324 with nine home runs, 21 RBIs and 19 runs over his last 17 games. ... Bonser made his first appearance in nine days, and just his sixth this month. Since being bumped to the bullpen in June, he has an 8.74 ERA with 36 hits allowed in 22 2-3 innings spanning 14 games. He was one out from completing three scoreless innings when he walked Paul Konerko. Two batters later, Ramirez took him deep. ... This game drew a crowd of 42,705, Minnesota's largest this season since opening night. ... Twins RF Michael Cuddyer took batting practice for the first time since he was placed on the DL at the end of June with a strained tendon in his left index finger. He said he felt all right; he's working on returning strength and mobility to his hand, but there's no timetable for his return. ... Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen kept Konerko sixth in the lineup despite a previous indication the 1B needed a mental break. After averaging .283 with 37 homers and 105 RBIs over the last four seasons, Konerko is in a bad slump. He went 1-for-4 and is 14-for-66 since coming off the DL earlier this month, dropping his average to .214. He has nine homers and 35 RBIs.

[Associated Press; By DAVE CAMPBELL]

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