Twins top White Sox to cut Central lead to 1/2-game

[September 25, 2008]  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Nick Blackburn fought through five innings and the maligned Minnesota bullpen didn't flinch, pitching the Twins past Mark Buehrle and the White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday night to pull within a half-game of Chicago in the AL Central.

Making up for Javier Vazquez's flop in a 9-3 loss the night before, Buehrle (14-12) gave the White Sox the big game performance they needed after he fell behind 3-1 in the second inning. He didn't have much help, though, beyond a homer and two RBIs by Ken Griffey Jr.

Blackburn (11-10) gave up eight hits and two walks, but he was tough enough when it counted to hold the lead. Craig Breslow, Boof Bonser and Jose Mijares followed with three scoreless innings, and Joe Nathan handled the ninth for his 39th save.

Minnesota improved to 7-1 against Chicago at the Metrodome this year, thanks in big part to those relievers -- who are a big reason, ironically, why the Twins are still chasing the White Sox and not comfortably in front. The margin between these teams has been no bigger than 2 1/2 games since July 27.

Buehrle retired 13 of the last 15 batters he faced. After hitting three homers on Tuesday, the Twins went back to what they're used to -- getting the ball on the ground and racing around the bases.

League batting leader Joe Mauer rolled over on one in each of the first two innings, but he was fast enough to beat the relay throws and keep those bouncers to second from turning into double plays instead of RBIs. Denard Span drove in a run with single, too, and Carlos Gomez kept the rally alive with a perfectly placed bunt down the first base line before barely diving back to second in time to avoid being picked off.

Manager Ozzie Guillen tried to give his lineup a lift by bumping slumping catcher A.J. Pierzynski to the eighth spot, sending DeWayne Wise to the leadoff slot and moving Orlando Cabrera down to No. 2. Guillen was his usual defensive self discussing the move before the game: "They don't like it? Don't watch the White Sox," he said.

The Sox hit three straight singles to load the bases with two out after Griffey got a run in with a groundout in the second, but Wise whiffed at strike three on a fastball from Blackburn.

With runners on first and third following Griffey's homer in the fourth, Juan Uribe sent a chopper to third base and Alexei Ramirez broke for home and was caught in a rundown. Wise popped up the next pitch to third, ending the inning.

 

Notes: Gomez gave Minnesota 64 bunt hits this year. The next closest team in the majors coming into Wednesday's games was Cincinnati with 33. The all-time record was set in 1992 by Los Angeles with 72. ... Pierzynski entered the game with only four hits in his previous 32 at-bats. He said this after Tuesday's game: "It's embarrassing. It's my job to have good at-bats and get key hits. Someone's going to pay, and I hope it starts tomorrow." ... Scott Baker's performance on Tuesday gave the Twins five pitchers with 10 or more wins, just the second time for them in the club's 48-year history. It also happened in 1970. ... Chicago's Carlos Quentin, still tied for the AL home run lead with 36, will be re-evaluated on Friday. He's been increasing the range of motion in his broken right wrist, but his return for any of the regular season or perhaps the playoffs remains in question. ... Twins manager Ron Gardenhire kept Jason Kubel -- who had two homers and a triple on Tuesday -- as his DH after initially penciling Michael Cuddyer in. Gardenhire said Cuddyer's once-broken left foot is close to being strong enough to allow him to play RF again. ... Guillen indicated he'll consider using Vazquez to start on short rest again on Saturday against Cleveland.

[Associated Press; By DAVE CAMPBELL]

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