Mauer hits grand slam, Twins rout White Sox 20-1

[May 22, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Joe Mauer hit a grand slam, two doubles and drove in a career-high six runs as the Minnesota Twins routed the White Sox 20-1 Thursday, matching Chicago's most-lopsided loss in team history.

Michael Cuddyer, Joe Crede and Matt Tolbert also homered as Minnesota ended a six-game losing streak and made the White Sox pine even more for Jake Peavy.

The San Diego Padres have agreed to deal their ace to the White Sox, and the teams were waiting to see whether Peavy waives his no-trade clause.

Mauer's second career grand slam capped a six-run sixth inning. Tolbert's first big league homer, a three-run shot in the seventh, made it 20-0.

His team having lost nine straight on the road, Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire shook up his batting order. The strategy worked, with the Twins scoring at least 20 runs for only the 13th time in franchise history.

Mauer batted second for the first time this season, Cuddyer had four hits and three RBIs and Tolbert drove in four runs. Cleanup man Jason Kubel had three hits and everyone in the starting lineup scored within the first three innings.

The White Sox lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Bartolo Colon (2-4) allowed eight runs in two innings. Although all seven second-inning runs were unearned after an error by third baseman Wilson Betemit, Colon's latest in a series of poor outings had White Sox fans hoping a deal for Peavy would get done.

The Padres had talked to the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta during the offseason about a trade for the 2007 NL Cy Young winner.

Nick Blackburn (3-2) allowed four hits over seven innings to win for the first time at U.S. Cellular Field, where he had been 0-4 with a 5.27 ERA.

Minnesota led 1-0 and had two on in the second when Betemit fielded Nick Punto's bunt and threw the ball off Punto's helmet. Mauer's sacrifice fly and Kubel's RBI single made it 4-0 before Cuddyer lined a three-run homer over the left-field fence. Three pitches later, Crede took Colon deep for an eight-run lead.

Another throwing error by Betemit put the Twins up 10-0 in the fourth.

When the White Sox averted a shutout on Carlos Quentin's eighth-inning RBI single off Jose Mijares, those remaining in the ballpark cheered loudly.

It was the 10th time Chicago has allowed 20 runs in a game and first since a 20-14 loss to Minnesota in 2007. The Twins won for only the second time in their last 12 games at U.S. Cellular.

Notes: Mauer has a 14-game hitting streak. ... Scott Podsednik, signed to give the White Sox better baserunning, has been picked off first base in three straight games. Thursday, he also was doubled off first on a bases-loaded liner to third. ... In their previous seven games, Twins starting pitchers were 0-3 with a 7.23 ERA. ... It was the first time in 21 games at Chicago that Minnesota pitchers didn't allow at least one home run.

[Associated Press]

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