SB Nation Chicago - Jenks Meltdown, Sox Errors Lead To Ninth-Inning Sox Loss To Twinshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48877/chicago-fave.png2010-07-18T22:18:28-05:00http://chicago.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13395502010-07-18T22:18:28-05:002010-07-18T22:18:28-05:00Alex Rios' Throwing Error Leads To Twins' Winning Run; Sox Lose 7-6
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<p>Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) – Delmon Young’s bases loaded run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth inning brought in two with the help of a throwing error by Alex Rios, as the Minnesota Twins scored four runs in the inning to shock the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox, 7-6, in the finale of a four-game series at Target Field.</p>
<p>Young also hit a two-run homer and Michael Cuddyer, who scored the winning run, went 3-for-5 with a triple and two <span class="caps">RBI</span> for Minnesota, which took the final three games of the series and has won four of five.</p>
<p>Brian Duensing (3-1) picked up the win for allowing one run and seven hits in four innings of relief. Twins starter Nick Blackburn continued to struggle after yielding five runs on nine hits over five frames. He struck out one and did not issue a walk. The righty had lost his last two decisions and was 1-6 in his previous eight starts coming in.</p>
<p>“I felt pretty good. I felt a little sluggish, thought I was fighting myself the first couple innings. Duensing said. “The last couple innings I tried not to do as much and just throw strikes.”</p>
<p>Carlos Quentin finished 2-for-3 with a two-run double, scored once and stole a base before leaving in the bottom of the sixth with a right hand injury for the White Sox, who have dropped three in a row after a nine-game winning streak. Gordon Beckham turned in a four-hit game and knocked in a pair in defeat.</p>
<p>Bobby Jenks (1-2) was tagged with the loss after failing apart in the ninth inning. The burly right-hander was charged with four runs — three earned — on two hits and a pair of walks without retiring a batter.</p>
<p>With Minnesota trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Jenks came on and walked the first two batters, then gave up back-to-back <span class="caps">RBI</span> singles to Jason Kubel and Cuddyer that made it a one-run game. With runners still on the corners, manager Ozzie Guillen went to his bullpen and brought in Sergio Santos, who immediately walked Jason Repko to load the bases. Young followed by hitting a bloop single to center that scored the tying run. Cuddyer initially stopped at third, but after Rios’ throw eluded the cutoff man, Cuddyer scampered home to give the Twins the dramatic victory.</p>
<p>“Just didn’t have it,” Jenks said. “My cutter was coming back, my sinker wasn’t sinking, the slider was big. Just didn’t have my stuff today.”</p>
<p>Minnesota drew first blood with a pair of runs in the second. Jim Thome singled with one away and Young followed by cracking a first-pitch slider into the left field seats.</p>
<p>The White Sox got a run back in the third on Beckham’s run-scoring single before Minnesota restored its two-run lead in the home half on Cuddyer’s <span class="caps">RBI</span> triple.</p>
<p>With runners on first and third, and one out in the fifth, Juan Pierre’s <span class="caps">RBI</span> groundout pulled the White Sox to within a run and they would put up four more in the sixth to take the lead.</p>
<p>Rios and Paul Konerko each singled to get the inning started and Quentin’s double to center brought in both to put the Sox in front and chase Blackburn. Duensing took over and retired the first batter he faced before intentionally walking Alexei Ramirez. Quentin then stole third and came in to score on Ramon Castro’s single up the middle. Beckham followed with an <span class="caps">RBI</span> base hit that made it 6-3.</p>
<p>It was the first walk-off win in the brief history of Target Field…White Sox starter Freddy Garcia, who had won six straight decisions coming into the series finale, tossed six effective innings, yielding 11 hits, three runs and one walk and also fanned a batter…The Twins went 12-6 versus the White Sox last year, winning seven of nine at home between the teams, and they have now won six of nine meetings so far in 2010.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2010/7/18/1576164/alex-rios-throwing-error-white-sox-lose-7-6-twinsAl Yellon2010-07-18T11:01:20-05:002010-07-18T11:01:20-05:00Garcia, Sox Go For Split With Twins
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<p>(Sports Network) - The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/MIN">Minnesota Twins</a> will try to make things even tighter in the AL Central, as they wrap up a four-game set with the division-leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/CWS">Chicago White Sox</a> today at Target Field.</p>
<p>After losing the opener of this series, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/MIN">Twins</a> have bounced back with consecutive victories to pull just 2 1/2 games back of Chicago for the division lead.</p>
<p>On Saturday, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/631/Carl_Pavano">Carl Pavano</a> threw his fourth complete game of the season, outdueling <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/810/Mark_Buehrle">Mark Buehrle</a> to lead the Twins to a 3-2 victory.</p>
<p>Pavano (11-6), who had never thrown more than two complete games in a season prior to this year, gave up seven hits, walked none and struck out six.</p>
<p>The right-hander got into trouble in the ninth, which <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/826/Omar_Vizquel">Omar Vizquel</a> began with a double, but retired the next three batters to win his sixth consecutive decision.</p>
<p>Buehrle (8-8), meanwhile, gave up only three runs on nine hits in eight innings, but took the loss. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/159/Paul_Konerko">Paul Konerko</a> finished 2-for-4 and drove in both runs for Chicago, which has dropped its last two after a nine-game win streak.</p>
<p>"It was a pitchers' duel out there," Buehrle said. "Obviously Carl's having a great year and throwing the ball well, and I put our team in a deep hole."</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/CWS">White Sox</a> will turn to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/215/Freddy_Garcia">Freddy Garcia</a> today for another strong pitching performance. The veteran right-hander has won six straight decisions, and Chicago has come out on top in each of his last eight starts. On July 7th, Garcia allowed one unearned run and five hits over six innings of a 5-2 triumph of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/ANA">Angels</a>.</p>
<p>Garcia has split two starts against Minnesota this season, capturing a 5-2 win after allowing two runs in seven innings of work at Target Field on May 11th.</p>
<p>Countering for the Twins is <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/19130/Nick_Blackburn">Nick Blackburn</a>, who has struggled of late. Loser of two straight, Blackburn is 1-6 with a 10.00 ERA in his last eight appearances. In his last outing on July 10th, the right-hander gave up seven earned runs and four homers in four innings of a 7-4 loss to Detroit.</p>
<p>In 13 career appearances - 12 starts - versus the White Sox, Blackburn is 6-5 with a 3.62 ERA. He, however, had a four-game win streak snapped versus them on April 11th, allowing five earned runs and three homers in 7 2/3 innings of a 5-4 setback.</p>
<p>The Twins went 12-6 versus the White Sox last year, winning seven of nine at home between the teams, and they have won five of eight meetings so far in 2010.</p>
https://chicago.sbnation.com/2010/7/18/2318022/garcia-sox-go-for-split-with-twinsAl Yellon