| • Box score • Play by Play • How they scored • Game story |
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| W: K. Lohse (W, 8-11); L: J. Contreras (L, 7-7); S: J. Nathan (S, 30) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HR: None. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | ||||||||
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG |
| S Stewart LF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .273 |
| N Punto SS | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .247 |
| J Mauer C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .295 |
| J Morneau 1B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | .246 |
| M LeCroy DH | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .259 |
| L Ford CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .257 |
| M Ryan RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .183 |
| M Cuddyer 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .260 |
| B Abernathy 2B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .318 |
| L Rodriguez 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .257 |
| Team totals: | 36 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | |
Individual Batting:
RBI: Ford 2 (39), Abernathy 2 (4)
Grounded into double play: Ryan (1)
Left in scoring position: LeCroy (1), Morneau (3), Cuddyer (2), Stewart (2), Rodriguez (1), Punto (1)
Team Batting:
Left on base: 7
Left in scoring position: 5
Hits with runners in scoring position: 12 at-bats, 3 hits
Base Running:
Stolen bases: Mauer (10), Punto 3 (9)
Fielding:
Errors: Punto (5)
Double plays: 2: (#1: Morneau), (#2: Punto, Abernathy, Morneau)
| Chicago White Sox | ||||||||
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG |
| T Perez LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .214 |
| J Uribe SS | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .252 |
| C Everett DH | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .269 |
| P Konerko 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .271 |
| A Pierzynski C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .267 |
| J Dye RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .263 |
| A Rowand CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .284 |
| G Blum 2B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .182 |
| J Crede 3B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .246 |
| Team totals: | 31 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | |
Individual Batting:
Doubles: Blum (1)
RBI: Uribe (53), Dye (62)
Sacrifice flies: Dye (1)
Grounded into double play: Perez (1)
Left in scoring position: Crede (1), Perez (1), Pierzynski (1), Uribe (1), Konerko (1), Dye (1)
Team Batting:
Left on base: 6
Left in scoring position: 3
Hits with runners in scoring position: 8 at-bats, 1 hits
Fielding:
Errors: Crede (8)
Double plays: 1: (#1: Uribe, Blum, Konerko)
Pitching:
Hit by pitch: Pierzynski (by Lohse), Uribe (by Lohse)
| Minnesota | |||||||
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
| K Lohse (W, 8-11) | 5.1 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4.17 |
| J Crain (H, 10) | 1.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2.80 |
| J Rincon (H, 17) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2.62 |
| J Nathan (S, 30) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.66 |
| Chicago White Sox | |||||||
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
| J Contreras (L, 7-7) | 6.2 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4.24 |
| D Marte | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3.03 |
| C Politte | 1.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.95 |
| N Cotts | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.05 |
| Individual Pitching | ||||||
| Minnesota | ||||||
| Name | Batters Faced | Pitches | Strikes | Ground Balls | Fly Balls | |
| K Lohse | 23 | 103 | 69 | 6 | 8 | |
| J Crain | 5 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | |
| J Rincon | 4 | 19 | 14 | 1 | 0 | |
| J Nathan | 3 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | |
| Chicago White Sox | ||||||
| Name | Batters Faced | Pitches | Strikes | Ground Balls | Fly Balls | |
| J Contreras | 30 | 105 | 65 | 12 | 4 | |
| D Marte | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| C Politte | 6 | 22 | 14 | 5 | 1 | |
| N Cotts | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Umpires | |
| Name | Position |
| Paul Emmel | HP |
| Tony Randazzo | 1B |
| Ed Montague | 2B |
| Jerry Layne | 3B |
| Play-By-Play |
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| Top of the 1st Out: Stewart strikes out. 1 out. |
| Out: Punto flies out to 3B. 2 outs. |
| Out: Mauer flies out to SS. 3 outs. |
| Bottom of the 1st Out: Perez grounds out to SS. 1 out. |
| Play: Uribe hit by pitch. 1 out. |
| Play: Everett walks. Uribe to second. 1 out. |
| Out: Konerko hits into double play. 3 outs. |
| Top of the 2nd Out: Morneau flies out to LF. 1 out. |
| Out: LeCroy grounds out to SS. 2 outs. |
| Out: Ford grounds out to P. 3 outs. |
| Bottom of the 2nd Out: Pierzynski flies out to LF. 1 out. |
| Out: Dye flies out to LF. 2 outs. |
| Out: Rowand grounds out to P. 3 outs. |
| Top of the 3rd Out: Ryan grounds out to 1B. 1 out. |
| Out: Cuddyer grounds out to 3B. 2 outs. |
| Hit: Abernathy hits a single to CF. 2 outs. |
| Out: Stewart hits a fielders-choice to SS. 3 outs. |
| Bottom of the 3rd Hit: Blum hits a double to CF. 0 out. |
| Out: Crede strikes out. Blum holds on second. 1 out. |
| Out: Perez grounds out to SS. Blum holds on second. 2 outs. |
| Out: Uribe grounds out to SS. 3 outs. |
| Top of the 4th Hit: Punto hits a single to CF. 0 out. |
| Stolen base: Punto steals second. 0 out. |
| Play: Mauer walks. Punto holds on second. 0 out. |
| Out: Morneau hits a fielders-choice to 1B. Mauer out. Punto to third. 1 out. |
| Play: LeCroy walks. Morneau to second. Punto holds on third. 1 out. |
| Run scored: 2 runs, single by Lew Ford. Nick Punto scores from 3rd, Justin Morneau scores from 2nd. |
| Hit: Ryan hits a single to RF. Ford to second. LeCroy to third. 1 out. |
| Out: Cuddyer strikes out. Ryan holds on first. Ford holds on second. LeCroy holds on third. 2 outs. |
| Run scored: 2 runs, single by Brent Abernathy. Matthew LeCroy scores from 3rd, Lew Ford scores from 2nd. |
| Out: Stewart flies out to CF. 3 outs. |
| Bottom of the 4th Hit: Everett hits a single to CF. 0 out. |
| Out: Konerko flies out to LF. Everett holds on first. 1 out. |
| Play: Konerko - error. Everett to second. 1 out. |
| Out: Pierzynski flies out to CF. Everett holds on second. 2 outs. |
| Out: Dye flies out to RF. 3 outs. |
| Top of the 5th Hit: Punto hits a single to CF. 0 out. |
| Out: Mauer flies out to LF. Punto holds on first. 1 out. |
| Stolen base: Punto steals second. 1 out. |
| Out: Morneau strikes out. Punto holds on second. 2 outs. |
| Out: LeCroy grounds out to SS. 3 outs. |
| Bottom of the 5th Out: Rowand flies out to CF. 1 out. |
| Hit: Blum hits a single to SS. 1 out. |
| Hit: Crede hits a single to CF. Blum to second. 1 out. |
| Out: Perez grounds out to 1B. Crede to second. Blum to third. 2 outs. |
| Run scored: 1 run, single by Juan Uribe. Geoff Blum scores from 3rd. |
| Advanced base: Uribe holds on first. Crede out. 3 outs. |
| Top of the 6th Out: Ford strikes out. 1 out. |
| Out: Ryan strikes out. 2 outs. |
| Out: Cuddyer grounds out to SS. 3 outs. |
| Bottom of the 6th Hit: Everett hits a single to RF. 0 out. |
| Hit: Konerko hits a single to LF. Everett to third. 0 out. |
| Advanced base: Konerko out. Everett holds on third. 1 out. |
| Play: Pierzynski hit by pitch. Everett holds on third. 1 out. |
| Pitching Change: (P) Lohse replaced by (P) Crain |
| Run scored: 1 run, Jermaine Dye hits a sacrifice fly. Carl Everett scores from 3rd. |
| Out: Rowand flies out to CF. 3 outs. |
| Top of the 7th Out: Abernathy grounds out to SS. 1 out. |
| Out: Stewart grounds out to SS. 2 outs. |
| Hit: Punto hits a single to RF. 2 outs. |
| Hit: Mauer hits a single to 3B. Punto to second. 2 outs. |
| Pitching Change: (P) Contreras replaced by (P) Marte |
| Stolen base: Punto steals third. 2 outs. |
| Stolen base: Mauer steals second. 2 outs. |
| Out: Morneau strikes out. 3 outs. |
| Bottom of the 7th Out: Blum strikes out. 1 out. |
| Hit: Crede hits a single to RF. 1 out. |
| Out: Perez hits into double play. 3 outs. |
| Top of the 8th Pitching Change: (P) Marte replaced by (P) Politte |
| Out: LeCroy flies out to CF. 1 out. |
| Hit: Ford hits a single to CF. 1 out. |
| Out: Ryan hits into double play. 3 outs. |
| Bottom of the 8th Defensive Substitution: (2B) Abernathy replaced by (2B) Rodriguez |
| Pitching Change: (P) Crain replaced by (P) Rincon |
| Hit: Uribe hits a single to 2B. 0 out. |
| Out: Everett strikes out. Uribe holds on first. 1 out. |
| Out: Konerko strikes out. Uribe holds on first. 2 outs. |
| Out: Pierzynski strikes out. 3 outs. |
| Top of the 9th Play: Cuddyer - error. 0 out. |
| Out: Rodriguez grounds out to SS. Cuddyer holds on second. 1 out. |
| Out: Stewart grounds out to SS. Cuddyer holds on second. 2 outs. |
| Pitching Change: (P) Politte replaced by (P) Cotts |
| Out: Punto flies out to 1B. 3 outs. |
| Bottom of the 9th Pitching Change: (P) Rincon replaced by (P) Nathan |
| Out: Dye grounds out to 3B. 1 out. |
| Out: Rowand flies out to CF. 2 outs. |
| Out: Blum flies out to LF. 3 outs. |
How they scored:
Twins fourth. Punto singled to center. Punto stole second. Mauer walked on a full count. Morneau grounded into fielder's choice, first baseman Konerko to shortstop Uribe, Punto to third, Mauer out. LeCroy walked on four pitches, Morneau to second. Ford singled to left, Punto scored, Morneau scored, LeCroy to second. Ryan singled to right, LeCroy to third, Ford to second. Cuddyer struck out. Abernathy singled to right, LeCroy scored, Ford scored, Ryan to second. Stewart flied out to center fielder Rowand.
4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Twins 4, White Sox 0.
White Sox fifth. Rowand flied out to center fielder Ford. Blum infield single to short. Crede singled to center, Blum to second. Perez grounded out, first baseman Morneau to pitcher Lohse, Blum to third, Crede to second. Uribe singled to center, Blum scored, Crede to third. Crede was out advancing, center fielder Ford to catcher Mauer, Crede out.
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Twins 4, White Sox 1.
White Sox sixth. Everett singled to right. Konerko singled to left, Everett to third. Konerko was out advancing, left fielder Stewart to shortstop Punto to third baseman Cuddyer to second baseman Abernathy, Konerko out. Pierzynski was hit by a pitch. Crain pitching. Dye hit a sacrifice fly to center fielder Ford, Everett scored. Rowand flied out to center fielder Ford.
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Twins 4, White Sox 2.
CHICAGO (AP) - Nick Punto is beginning to fit right in with the Minnesota Twins.
Lew Ford and Brent Abernathy each hit a two-run single in the fourth inning to lead Minnesota to a 4-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
Twins starter Kyle Lohse hung around long enough to earn his first victory since July 2, and Punto had three hits and three stolen bases for Minnesota, which has won four of five.
Minnesota prides itself on timely hitting, sound defense and aggressive baserunning - exactly the skills Punto provides. He also made several nice plays at shortstop, and his baserunning is catching the attention of manager Ron Gardenhire.
''He swung the bat good in Oakland. He's made a few adjustments in his swing and it's starting to pay off,'' Gardenhire said. ''We've been after him to be aggressive. When he gets on base we're going to try to run the bases.''
The White Sox, with the best record in the majors, are looking to take the AL Central title from the Twins, who have won the division the last three seasons. Chicago leads by 12 games over Cleveland, while the Twins are 14 games behind.
Chicago has lost three straight overall and 11 of 17 at home.
''We swung the bat pretty good today. I think the first part of the game we just played real lousy. We didn't play our game, we made mistakes on the bases, we didn't move the guy over,'' White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.
White Sox starter Jose Contreras coasted through the first three innings, but the Twins batted around in the fourth, scoring four runs on four hits.
Punto hit a leadoff single and stole second, then Contreras walked Joe Mauer. After a fielder's choice, Contreras walked Matthew LeCroy, loading the bases. Ford followed with a two-run single to left, scoring Punto and Justin Morneau, who barely beat Juan Uribe's relay throw to the plate, making it 2-0.
''I've been working with (first base coach) Jerry White on getting better breaks. We're not putting a lot of runs on the board, so you got to try to take the extra base,'' Punto said.
Contreras gave up another single to Michael Ryan, loading the bases again. With two outs, Abernathy, recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, hit a two-run single. Ford scored from second, sliding around A.J. Pierzynski's tag at the plate to give the Twins a 4-0 lead.
In the fifth, Geoff Blum and Joe Crede hit back-to-back singles off Lohse. With two outs and runners on second and third, Uribe singled to center, scoring Blum. But Crede was thrown out at the plate by Ford from center.
Lohse (8-11) pitched 5 1-3 innings, allowing two runs and seven hits. He was backed by strong defense: Shannon Stewart took a home run away from Paul Konerko in the fourth with a leaping catch at the wall in left.
''We saw a lot of defensive plays by our team out there. We take a lot of pride in that. Shannon made a great play at the wall and (Ford) charged the ball hard and made a perfect throw,'' Gardenhire said.
Lohse was winless in his previous seven starts. He snapped his five-game losing streak.
Jesse Crain relieved Lohse and pitched 1 2-3 innings. Juan Rincon struck out the side in the eighth, and Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 30th save in 33 chances.
''They have a great bullpen. Once it gets in their hands, they're pretty stingy,'' Konerko said.
Jermaine Dye had a sacrifice fly for Chicago in the sixth.
Contreras (7-7) lasted 6 2-3 innings in another shaky outing. He allowed four runs and eight hits, struck out five and walked two.
The inconsistent right-hander couldn't follow up an impressive outing in his last start at Yankee Stadium against his former team. Contreras pitched seven-plus shutout innings against New York, earning the victory.
Notes: The White Sox placed major league steals leader Scott Podsednik on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained muscle in his left leg. To take Podsednik's spot, Chicago purchased the contract of outfielder Brian Anderson from Triple-A Charlotte. ... Twins RF Jacque Jones was out of the lineup for the fourth consecutive game with a right oblique strain. He is day-to-day. ... Before the game, the White Sox played a video tribute on the scoreboard to Ted ''Double Duty'' Radcliffe, who died last Thursday and was believed to be the oldest living professional baseball player. He was 103. ... White Sox 2B Tadahito Iguchi had the night off.