Casilla, bullpen lead Twins to series sweep

[July 30, 2009]  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Light-hitting Alexi Casilla had two RBIs, Minnesota's bullpen pitched four scoreless innings and the Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday night to sweep the three-game series.

Casilla, who entered the game hitting .161, broke a 2-2 tie with a run-scoring single in the sixth and the Twins beat the White Sox for the sixth time in seven games. Minnesota has won four straight overall.

Joe Crede walked to lead off the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on Casilla's two-out single off Jose Contreras (4-10), who lost his third straight.

Jesse Crain (3-4) and Matt Guerrier combined for three innings of scoreless relief before Joe Nathan pitched a nail-biting ninth for his 29th save.

Chicago had runners on first and second with one out in the ninth. Nathan struck out Chris Getz but the ball got away from catcher Joe Mauer to advance the runners. Mark Kotsay, in his first game since being acquired from Boston, flied out to end it.

Jayson Nix and Carlos Quentin homered for Chicago, which has lost six of seven after entering last weekend tied for first place in the AL Central with Detroit. The White Sox have lost nine of their last 10 and 14 of 16 in the Metrodome. Chicago is 2-10 in its last 12 road games.

Nix and Quentin's home runs were off Brian Duensing, who found out earlier in the day that he was making his first major league start in place of Francisco Liriano, who was scratched with soreness and swelling in his left forearm.

Duensing, who had a 5.50 ERA in nine relief appearances with the Twins and was 4-6 with a 4.66 ERA in 13 starts for Triple-A Rochester, allowed two earned runs and three hits in five innings. He struck out two.

Moved up one spot in the rotation to replace Bartolo Colon, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation, Contreras struggled early and late in his 5 2-3 innings.

An RBI grounds-rule double by Casilla and run-scoring groundout by Denard Span gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead in the second. Contreras needed 58 pitches to get through the first two innings, but just 17 in the next two, before running into trouble in the sixth.

Quentin's homer in the fifth ended an 0-for-16 slump and tied the game at 2. The home run was his first RBI since returning to the lineup on July 20 after missing 47 games with plantar fascitis in his left foot.

NOTES: Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said the plan is to have Liriano rest for a couple of days and throw a bullpen session this weekend. If all goes well, he would likely start next Wednesday in Cleveland. ... Chicago called up LHP Randy Williams from Triple-A Charlotte to replace Colon. He pitched one scoreless inning. ... White Sox slugger Jim Thome missed his second straight game with a sore back. He is expected to play Thursday at home against New York.

[Associated Press]

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