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 Abreu grinned, kissed his fingers and jokingly rubbed the wound.
Very little -- including a 97 mph fastball into the star slugger's
gut -- can spoil the good feelings for Chicago these days. Both
benches cleared after Abreu was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning,
but tempers quickly mellowed as the White Sox coasted to a 10-4
victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday.
Chicago (20-10) became the first team in the American League to win
20 games.
Abreu praised his teammates and manager Robin Ventura for coming to
his defense after he exchanged words with Twins right-hander Trevor
May. Ventura was ejected for arguing after May was allowed to remain
in the game.
"That showed me respect," Abreu said through a translator. "They
respect me and I respect them, especially Robin. I always say we are
a family, and we showed today that we really are a family."
Melky Cabrera went 4-for-5 with a double and three RBIs to lead the
White Sox at the plate. Adam Eaton and Tyler Saladino added two hits
and two RBIs apiece for the White Sox, who scored runs in five of
the first seven innings.
Chicago matched a season high with 10 runs on 14 hits. Abreu hit his
fifth home run of the season in the third inning.
The White Sox defense was equally impressive, Ventura said. Eaton
chased down a line drive in right field to steal extra bases from
Eduardo Nunez in the third inning. Three innings later, Austin
Jackson crashed into the wall as he robbed Byung Ho Park of extra
bases.
 "The guys have been throwing some leather around," Ventura said.
"That's a big thing for us. I think they're taking pride in that."
Despite Jackson's catch in the sixth inning, Park finished 2-for-3
and scored a pair of runs. Minnesota (8-21) lost its third
consecutive game and has dropped seven of the past eight.
Minnesota allowed at least seven runs for the sixth time this
season.
"Offensively, we had a couple good things happen, but the deficits
are getting larger," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "We're not
putting many zeroes up the last couple games, and they keep finding
ways to add on."
Right-hander Mat Latos (5-0) remained unbeaten despite an
up-and-down performance in which he allowed four runs in five
innings. Latos surrendered seven hits, walked two and struck out
four.
"It isn't what I wanted, to go five innings," Latos said. "I really
want to go more. Someday, sometime, I'll find the seventh inning.
It's a team win. The guys really had my back."
Chicago's bullpen tandem of Zach Putnam, Zach Duke, Nate Jones and
Scott Carroll combined to pitch four scoreless innings.
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Right-hander Ricky Nolasco (1-1) gave up seven runs, five of which
were earned, on nine hits in five innings. Nolasco walked two and
struck out six.
"Definitely not what I envisioned happening early," Nolasco said.
"It's kind of the same story. We're just not catching breaks right
now. It will be the last time I say it because nobody wants to hear
it, but it's tough. We've just got to keep going forward, heads up
high, and keep battling."
Words were exchanged but no punches were thrown after May hit Abreu
just below the ribs in the eighth inning. The pitch came a
half-inning after White Sox right-hander Nate Jones hit Park with an
inside fastball.
Ventura said he believed May's pitch that hit Abreu was intentional.
Molitor said his relief pitcher was following the game plan.
"As long as I know, we've been trying to make sure that Abreu is
aware of inside (pitches)," Molitor said.
The White Sox built upon a 7-4 lead with a three-run seventh inning
that made it 10-4. Dioner Navarro (RBI single) and Saladino (two-run
single) ripped back-to-back hits to help put the game out of reach.
NOTES: Minnesota RHP Ervin Santana (back strain) was reinstated from
the 15-day disabled list Friday. Santana is scheduled to start
Saturday against the White Sox. He is 0-1 with a 3.15 ERA in four
starts this season. ... The White Sox recalled RHP Scott Carroll
from Triple-A Charlotte before Friday's game. ... Minnesota promoted
OF Darin Mastroianni and C Juan Centeno from Triple-A Rochester
before Friday's game. To clear space on the 40-man roster, the Twins
designated LHP Ryan O'Rourke and RHP J.R. Graham for assignment. ...
White Sox C Alex Avila (strained right hamstring) headed to Triple-A
Charlotte on Friday to begin a minor league rehabilitation
assignment. ... Minnesota optioned C John Ryan Murphy to Triple-A
Rochester. Murphy, 24, was 3-for-40 in 11 games.
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