Cuddyer, Tolbert homer to lead Twins over Chicago

[September 23, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Michael Cuddyer hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth and Matt Tolbert homered in the same inning and the Minnesota Twins defeated the Chicago White Sox 8-6 on Tuesday night.

The Twins won for the eighth time in nine games despite blowing two leads and getting a dismal start from Jeff Manship.

Orlando Cabrera hit a two-run homer and Jason Kubel added a solo shot for the Twins, who stayed within 2 1/2 games of first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

Cuddyer finished 3 for 4 and a triple short of the cycle, while Joe Mauer had an RBI double.

Jesse Crain (7-4) pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory and Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his 43rd save.

Gordon Beckham hit a two-run homer and Alex Rios and Paul Konerko added solo shots for the White Sox, who have lost six of seven.

Cuddyer put the Twins up for good with his 29th homer off White Sox starter John Danks in the sixth. With two outs, Tolbert hit his second homer of the season after his ball bounced off the top of the left-field wall and went over to put the Twins up 7-5.

Danks (12-10) allowed seven runs and eight hits in six innings. He matched his season-high with eight runs allowed and has not won a start since Aug. 27, at Boston.

The Twins scored three runs in the first. Danks walked Carlos Gomez, then gave up a home run to Cabrera. Kubel doubled and scored on Delmon Young's sacrifice fly.

Trailing 3-1 in the third, Rios homered for the second time since being claimed off waivers from Toronto on Aug. 10. After a single by Scott Podsednik, Beckham hit a two-run shot to put the White Sox ahead 4-3.

Despite the early 3-0 lead, Manship was only able to give the Twins 2 1-3 innings, allowing four runs and five hits.

Trailing 4-3 in the fourth, Cuddyer hit a leadoff double and scored when Brendan Harris hit into a double play. Danks walked Cabrera with two outs in the fifth, then Mauer split the right-center gap after Podsednik couldn't make the catch on a diving attempt. Cabrera scored from first as the throw got by catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Mauer went to third on the throw and was credited with his 27th double.

Twins reliever Francisco Liriano couldn't hold Minnesota's second lead of the game in the fifth. He walked Beckham, then with two outs, Konerko hit a double to tie the game at 5.

Kubel hit his 24th homer in the eighth.

NOTES: Twins CF Denard Span was held out of the lineup after getting hit in the helmet with a pitch Monday night. ... Struggling White Sox RF Jermaine Dye had the night off. He is 12 for 93 in his last 26 games. ... Konerko hit his 28th homer in the eighth.

[Associated Press]

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