SB Nation Chicago - White Sox Vs. Twins: Chicago Wins Series After Rios' Big Day

White Sox Vs. Twins Final Score: Alex Rios Smacks Pair Of HRs In 6-2 Chicago Victory

2012-09-05T21:16:52Z

Powered by a pair of home runs from outfielder Alex Rios, the Chicago White Sox reinforced their AL Central lead on Wednesday afternoon with a 6-2 victory over Minnesota.

Rios, who belted a grand slam in the first inning and then a two-run shot in the sixth, boosted his RBI total up to 82 for the season with his strong day from the plate. And with Rios supplying the entirety of the offense, right-hander Jake Peavy was more than comfortable keeping a slew of Minnesota slap-hitters at bay over six innings of work.

Peavy yielded just one run on five hits to pick up his 10th victory of the season, lowering his ERA down to 3.22 in the process with the outing. Hoping to build on their lead in the division, Robin Ventura's White Sox will remain at home to host Kansas City Royals for a weekend series that kicks off Friday

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White Sox Not Planning Any Extra Rest For Chris Sale

2012-09-05T19:22:21Z

The Chicago White Sox don't plan to limit starting pitcher Chris Sale's workload in any way during the final few weeks of the regular season, as Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago reports. The White Sox have been somewhat cautious with the young lefty this year, but they're not going to limit him with a possible postseason spot on the line.

The 23-year-old has been flat-out dominant this season for Chicago, posting a 2.93 ERA with 162 strikeouts and 43 walks over 163 innings of work. Manager Robin Ventura has worked to give Sale extra days of rest at various points throughout the season, but he told reporters that he won't necessarily continue doing that.

Beyond Sale's youth, his relative inexperience as a starter is another source of concern for the White Sox. After spending the 2011 season as a relief pitcher, building up the arm strength and durability to handle a spot in the rotation can be taxing.

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White Sox Lineup: Chicago Starters Get The Call Vs. Twins

2012-09-05T16:03:32Z

The Chicago White Sox have no margin for error in the AL Central, and there will be no day off on Wednesday for the team's core starting lineup. The team's normal starters will all be in the lineup as the team looks to defeat the Minnesota Twins, one night after getting bludgeoned by a score of 18-9.

There is one exception: Alejandro De Aza, who is still tuning up after coming off the DL, will sit. In his place is Dewayne Wise, who recorded a scoreless ninth inning on the mound on Wednesday night.

Here is the lineup for the game:

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MLB Standings 2012: White Sox Lead Tigers By One Game

2012-09-05T14:52:48Z

After momentarily falling into a tie for first place in the AL Central with the Detroit Tigers, the Chicago White Sox have rebuilt a one-game lead in the standings. Their general manager hopes they can extend that lead by playing smarter baseball and taking better advantage of opponents' weaknesses while the players are hoping a change in facial hair distracts the team from the pressure of a pennant race and leads to more relaxed baseball on the field.

The White Sox, who have split the first two games with the last-place Minnesota Twins this week, close out that series Wednesday. They are off Thursday, then host Kansas City for a weekend series, followed by a four-game series with the Tigers beginning Sept. 10 that could help determine the eventual division champion.

Here is a look at the full AL Central standings:

Central	W	L	PCT	GB	E#	WCGB	L10	STRK
Chicago White Sox	73	62	.541	-	-	-	3-7	L1
Detroit Tigers	72	63	.533	1.0	27	4.0	5-5	L2
Kansas City Royals	61	74	.452	12.0	16	15.0	5-5	W1
Cleveland Indians	58	78	.426	15.5	12	18.5	3-7	W2
Minnesota Twins	56	80	.412	17.5	10	20.5	5-5	W1

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General Manager Kenny Williams: White Sox Didn't Play Smart Baseball Against Detroit

2012-09-05T14:20:46Z

Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams was disappointed with his team's performance in a sweep by the Detroit Tigers last weekend, but he also believes Chicago didn't take advantage of some opportunities the Tigers presented that could've been exploited. From Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune:

"We had an opportunity in Detroit, for instance, and one of the conversations we had on the bus and the plane was, 'OK, let's review what happened,' " Williams recalled Tuesday. " 'Did we play the smartest baseball? Did we take advantage of the other team's weaknesses, and did we have the right game plan?'

"Well, it wasn't a matter of talent that lost us those three games. We didn't step up. But every now and then, you run into a couple of buzzsaws like they have the potential to do in their starting rotation, and it is what it is. But for the most part, those three things I just talked about will carry the day in September. Not just for us, for everybody."

Gonzales notes that although Williams didn't say it specifically, many who watched the series were surprised the White Sox did not attempt more bunts towards Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera, whose mobility has been hindered in recent weeks by an ankle injury.

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White Sox Vs. Twins Preview: Chicago Tries To Extend AL Central Lead

2012-09-05T12:30:18Z

The Chicago White Sox have split the first two games in a home series against the last place Minnesota Twins. Fortunately for Chicago, the Detroit Tigers, who entered the week in a first-place tie with the White Sox for first place in the AL Central, have dropped their first two games in a series with second to last place Cleveland, so the White Sox have picked up a game in the standings.

Jake Peavy (9-10, 3.28 ERA) pitches for Chicago at 1:10 p.m. CT Wednesday as the White Sox try to win their series with the Twins. Peavy has lost three straight decisions, including giving up 6 earned runs in six innings in his last start Aug. 31 against Detroit. He is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts against the Twins this season.

P.J. Walters (2-2, 5.40 ERA) starts for the Twins. Walters is winless in his last four starts, but his best start of the season came against the White Sox on May 22. He pitched a complete game in a 9-2 win, giving up 2 earned runs and striking out 8.

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Chicago White Sox Ease Pennant Race Pressure By Growing Mustaches

2012-09-05T12:14:31Z

After the Chicago White Sox were swept in a three-game weekend series by the Detroit Tigers, forcing a tie atop the AL Central standings, the team emerged on Monday with a new secret weapon: mustaches. The division race is still a close one, but the White Sox have picked up a game in the standings since several players unveiled their new facial hairstyles. Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago talked to a few of the players about the strategy.

Adam Dunn on mustache mastermind Kevin Youkilis:

"I don’t know about this moustache thing. … (Youkilis) comes up with a bunch of stuff. This is one of his 50 things he wants to do every day. Anything he can do to cover up his face is perfect.

"He always wants to do some kind of weird stuff. If he wants to shave heads, that’s where I draw the line. The moustache, whatever, all right, cool. I’m not shaving heads. I’ll tell you that much."

Paul Konerko:

"This time of year you kind of have to have some goofiness to get through it. It becomes a grind. We've been going at this for 6 1/2 months now from spring training. It gave everybody some life (in Monday’s win.) We're 1-0, so we'll ride it out and see what happens."

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White Sox Vs. Twins: Minnesota Clobbers Chicago In Game 2, 18-9

2012-09-05T03:45:13Z

The Minnesota Twins took advantage of all 17 of their hits on Tuesday night to beat the Chicago White Sox 18-9 in the second game of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chicago starting pitcher Jose Quintana (5-4) took a 3-0 lead to the second inning but the left-hander was able to record just one out before the Twins knocked him out of the game. By the time the inning was finished, Quintana was on the hook for seven runs thanks to six singles and two walks.

Among Minnesota's 17 hits, only three were for extra bases, but all of those singles combined with eight walks by Chicago's pitchers helped generate the lopsided final score. Much of that happened in the fifth inning when the Twins sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 10 runs. Reliever Philip Humber gave up eight of those runs as the Twins blew open the game for good.

Scott Diamond (11-6) earned the win on the mound for the Twins, taking advantage of some generous run support while giving up four runs in five innings.

Chicago maintained their one-game lead in the AL Central division with second-place Detroit also losing to the Cleveland Indians. The White Sox and Twins complete their series Wednesday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. CT.

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