White Sox back Floyd with 3 HRs in win over Twins

[July 24, 2012]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Adam Dunn hit his majors-leading 29th homer, Gavin Floyd went six innings after coming off the disabled list and the Chicago White Sox ended a five-game losing streak with a 7-4 win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.

Paul Konerko and Alex Rios also homered off Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano to help the White Sox win in their first home game following a 3-7 road trip after the All-Star break that knocked them out of first place in the AL Central.

Making his first start in 16 days after being sidelined by elbow tendinitis, Floyd (8-8) wasn't sharp but benefited from four double plays. He walked six, gave up six hits and three runs -- two earned. Addison Reed got his 16th save in 19 chances and got some help when a leaping catch by shortstop Alexei Ramirez saved a run on Joe Mauer's liner.

Floyd got out of a big jam in the first, allowing only one run after giving up a bunt single and two walks to load the bases with no outs. Josh Willingham then hit into a double play with the run scoring.

Floyd allowed a run to score on a wild pitch in the second and the Twins scored again in the fifth when center fielder Alejando De Aza overthrew second base on a relay when no one was at the bag. He was charged with an error.

Liriano (3-10), who pitched a no-hitter at U.S. Cellular Field on May 3, 2011, lasted only 2 2-3 innings. He gave up seven hits -- including the three homers -- and a season-high seven runs in losing his third straight. Entering the game, he'd yielded only three homers in his previous 70 2-3 innings and just nine all season.

Konerko's three-run, opposite-field blast followed a single by De Aza and a walk to Kevin Youkilis in the first. It was his first homer since June 29 and 15th of the season.

Dunn, mired in a 2-for-27 skid, hit a two-run shot to center in the third. One batter later, Rios hit a long homer -- his 15th of the season -- to left to make it 7-2.

Minnesota's Ryan Doumit hit his third homer in two games, a solo shot off reliever Jesse Crain in the eighth.

NOTES: The White Sox turned five double plays. ... Justin Morneau should rejoin the Twins on Tuesday after being with his wife when she gave birth Saturday. ....Twins 3B Trevor Plouffe, who hurt his right thumb Friday, was out of the lineup again. .... White Sox GM Ken Williams said his team is still in good position despite the tough road trip to begin the second half. "A lot of people didn't think we would be in this position right now and if we just kind of look at it from that standpoint, we're in a nice spot as we head into August here, whether it's a game and a half up or a game and a half back," he said. "Ultimately you've got to close it out anyway. Is it nice to be in first place and chased? Absolutely. But it's our time to do a little chasing right now." ... The announced crowd of 37,788 was Chicago's second sellout of the season. ... Floyd has won four of his last five starts overall. He is now 6-11 in his career against the Twins.

[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]

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