Twins sweep White Sox, move into 1st place

[September 26, 2008]  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Alexi Casilla singled in the winning run in the 10th inning Thursday night and the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 7-6 to move into first place in the AL Central by a half-game.

Casilla's soft hit into short center off Bobby Jenks (3-1) scored Nick Punto and led to a wild celebration on the field at the Metrodome, capping a three-game sweep by the Twins.

Joe Nathan (1-2) pitched two perfect innings for the victory, part of a Minnesota bullpen that totaled 6 1-3 scoreless innings and surrendered only two hits.

Carlos Gomez made up for a costly defensive mistake during a six-run fourth by the White Sox -- who knocked Twins starter Kevin Slowey out that inning with an injured wrist -- with four hits and two RBIs.

Gomez scored on Denard Span's triple off Jenks in the eighth, tying it at 6. Jenks then struck out Casilla and got Joe Mauer to ground out to end the inning.

Gomez made a sliding catch to end the ninth, too.

Matt Thornton relieved White Sox starter Gavin Floyd and got four outs on 10 pitches, but Brendan Harris greeted him with a pinch double in the eighth and manager Ozzie Guillen summoned Jenks after one out.

Gomez singled in a run, and Span followed with his triple down the right-field line -- turning toward his dugout to scream after reaching third and repeatedly pumping his arm in celebration. Jenks, whose streak of 15 straight saves converted ended, muttered to himself as he walked behind the mound and the crowd of 43,601 -- the second-largest in Minnesota this year -- roared.

The Twins host the Kansas City Royals three times this weekend to finish their schedule, while the wilting White Sox head home for a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians. If these teams are still within a half-game of each other after play is completed Sunday, Chicago must make up a rainout against the Detroit Tigers on Monday. Then, if they're tied, the Twins will have to travel to the South Side for a one-game playoff Tuesday to determine the division champion.

Slowey retired the first 13 batters he faced before Orlando Cabrera homered in the fourth. Cabrera's drive, just above left fielder Delmon Young's glove, landed in the first row of seats and tied it at 1.

Slowey's night quickly unraveled after that.

He should have been on the bench long before he was hurt, though. Gomez helped seal Wednesday's 3-2 win with a running catch in center of A.J. Pierzynski's drive for the second out in the ninth, but he overeagerly chased Jim Thome's one-out fly to the warning track Thursday and -- failing to heed Span's call in right field -- collided with his teammate as they both converged on the ball.

Thome got a double, and Paul Konerko followed with an RBI groundout. Alexei Ramirez later hit a low chopper to third baseman Brian Buscher, who charged and bobbled the ball when he tried the glove-to-hand transfer. The ruling was a single, and the Sox led 3-1 before they broke it open -- nearly breaking Slowey's wrist -- on Juan Uribe's smash.

The Twins got two back in the bottom half on a two-out RBI triple by Gomez followed by a bloop double from Span. Gomez hit another triple in the sixth and scored on a sacrifice by Span, cutting the lead to 6-4. Guillen called for Thornton to get Joe Mauer, who's surging toward his second batting title in three years, to ground into a fielder's choice.

Mauer drove in the first run with a double that eluded Ken Griffey Jr.'s reach in center field, though a younger version of the 10-time Gold Glove winner probably would've caught it.

Notes: Slowey finished 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA over five September appearances. He failed to go at least five innings in five of his 27 starts this season, including the last two. ... Guillen on his hopes for support at U.S. Cellular Field this weekend: "I hope they show up like they did here. White Sox fans, they should be proud of this ballclub." ... Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has gotten to the point where set roles for his relievers are out the window. Rookie Jose Mijares, who has given up one run in seven innings since he came up at the beginning of the month, is currently the best bet for the eighth inning to set up Nathan. "I don't want to put all the pressure in the world on the young man, but he's throwing the ball very well," Gardenhire said.

[Associated Press; By DAVE CAMPBELL]

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