GAME THREAD: AL: MINNESOTA (69-71) at CHI WHITE SOX (59-81)

AL: MINNESOTA (69-71) at CHI WHITE SOX (59-81)

<h3>Twins look to snap four-game skid vs. lowly White Sox</h3>

<div class="pre">Minnesota (69-71) at Chi White Sox (59-81) 8:11 pm EDT</div>

<div class="pre">CHICAGO (Ticker) - It it is safe to say that the Minnesota</div>Twins will not rally to win the American League Central fora second straight season.


Minnesota looks to snap a four-game skid in the opener of aweekend series with the Chicago White Sox on Friday.

The Twins, who rallied from 10 1/2 games back to win thedivision last season, have dropped eight of 10 and trail theCleveland Indians (81-58) by 12 games. Things also look bleak inthe wild card race, where they trail the New York Yankees(78-62) by nine games.


Carlos Silva (11-13, 4.34 ERA) takes the mound for Minnesota,which scored just seven runs while being swept in a three-game<div class="pre">series by Cleveland. Silva has been horrible on the road,</div>posting a 3-9 record with a 5.52 ERA in 13 starts.

Luckily for Silva, he is facing a Chicago team that has droppedtwo straight, and an astounding 20 of its last 25 games.

The White Sox counter with Javier Vazquez (11-8, 3.91), who islooking to avoid a season high-tying third straight loss.Vazquez allowed three earned runs and eight hits in six inningsof a 7-0 loss to Cleveland on Sunday.

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA AT CHI WHITE SOX -- LINEUPS

MINNESOTA CHI WHITE SOX
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Jason Tyner LF .296 1 18 Jerry Owens CF .241 1 11
Jason Bartlett SS .274 5 40 Josh Fields LF .235 18 54
Torii Hunter CF .291 27 97 Jim Thome DH .264 23 73
Justin Morneau 1B .280 29 99 Paul Konerko 1B .262 27 75
Michael Cuddyer RF .276 13 72 A.J. Pierzynski C .266 13 43
Garrett Jones DH .186 0 1 Darin Erstad RF .257 3 28
Brian Buscher 3B .270 1 2 Juan Uribe SS .219 15 53
Chris Heintz C .206 0 5 Danny Richar 2B .208 4 10
Nick Punto 2B .198 1 22 Andy Gonzalez 3B .206 2 11

Carlos Silva RHP (11-13, 4.34) Javier Vazquez RHP (11-8, 3.91)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX
WARMUPS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA (11-13, 4.34)
CHA - JAVIER VAZQUEZ (11-8, 3.91)

UMPIRES: HP - ED HICKOX
1B - C.B. BUCKNOR
2B - JOE WEST
3B - ED RAPUANO

WEATHER: 77 Degrees, drizzle
WIND: 10 mph, left to right</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX
STARTING BATS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA AND CHRIS HEINTZ
CHA - JAVIER VAZQUEZ AND A.J. PIERZYNSKI

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J TYNER (.296, 1 HR, 18 RBI)
J BARTLETT (.274, 5 HR, 40 RBI)
T HUNTER (.291, 27 HR, 97 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY TORII HUNTER SCORED JASON TYNER.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, T HUNTER ON FIRST, J BARTLETT ON THIRD, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 1
CHI WHITE SOX 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.280, 29 HR, 99 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY JUSTIN MORNEAU SCORED JASON BARTLETT.

SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J MORNEAU ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2
CHI WHITE SOX 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.276, 13 HR, 72 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 2 2 3 0
CHI WHITE SOX 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
CHA - JAVIER VAZQUEZ

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: J OWENS (.241, 1 HR, 11 RBI)
J FIELDS (.235, 18 HR, 54 RBI)
J THOME (.264, 23 HR, 73 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (2) VS CHI WHITE SOX (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .299
J Bartlett ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .292
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .280
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .276
G Jones dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .186
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
C Heintz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198

Totals 5 2 3 2 0 1 2

BATTING: RBI - T Hunter (98), J Morneau (100). Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Morneau (1, 2nd base by J Vazquez/A Pierzynski).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
J Fields lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Thome dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
P Konerko 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262
A Pierzynski c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
D Erstad rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208
A Gonzalez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Pierzynski-D Richar).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 2 -- 2
CHI WHITE SOX - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.34

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Vazquez 1 3 2 2 0 1 0 3.99

Pitches-strikes: J Vazquez 16-12. Ground balls-fly balls: J Vazquez 1-0.
Batters faced: J Vazquez 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 78 degrees, drizzle. Wind: 11 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX
CONFIRMED STARTERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
CHA - JAVIER VAZQUEZ</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JIM THOME SCORED JERRY OWENS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J THOME ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2
CHI WHITE SOX 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: P KONERKO (.262, 27 HR, 75 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 2 2 3 0
CHI WHITE SOX 1 1 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
CHA - JAVIER VAZQUEZ

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: G JONES (.186, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
B BUSCHER (.270, 1 HR, 2 RBI)
C HEINTZ (.206, 0 HR, 5 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (2) VS CHI WHITE SOX (1) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .299
J Bartlett ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .292
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .280
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .276
G Jones dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .186
B Buscher 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .270
C Heintz c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198

Totals 5 2 3 2 0 1 2

BATTING: RBI - T Hunter (98), J Morneau (100). Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Morneau (1, 2nd base by J Vazquez/A Pierzynski).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .244
J Fields lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Thome dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .266
P Konerko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
A Pierzynski c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
D Erstad rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208
A Gonzalez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - J Owens (7, C Silva). RBI - J Thome (74). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Pierzynski 1. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Pierzynski-D Richar).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 2 -- 2
CHI WHITE SOX - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.36

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Vazquez 1 3 2 2 0 1 0 3.99

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 9-8; J Vazquez 16-12. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 2-1; J Vazquez 1-0. Batters faced: C Silva 5; J Vazquez 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 2 0 2 3 0
CHI WHITE SOX 1 1 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
CHA - JAVIER VAZQUEZ

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: D ERSTAD (.257, 3 HR, 28 RBI)
J URIBE (.219, 15 HR, 53 RBI)
D RICHAR (.208, 4 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (2) VS CHI WHITE SOX (1) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .299
J Bartlett ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .292
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .280
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .276
G Jones dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182
B Buscher 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .263
C Heintz c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198

Totals 8 2 3 2 0 2 2

BATTING: RBI - T Hunter (98), J Morneau (100). Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Morneau (1, 2nd base by J Vazquez/A Pierzynski).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .244
J Fields lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Thome dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .266
P Konerko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
A Pierzynski c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
D Erstad rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208
A Gonzalez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206

Totals 5 1 2 1 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - J Owens (7, C Silva). RBI - J Thome (74). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Pierzynski 1. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Pierzynski-D Richar).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 20 -- 2
CHI WHITE SOX - 1 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.36

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Vazquez 2 3 2 2 0 2 0 3.97

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 9-8; J Vazquez 24-19. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 2-1; J Vazquez 2-1. Batters faced: C Silva 5; J Vazquez 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL AT CHI WHITE SOX - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JUAN URIBE (16) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 2ND OFF CARLOS SILVA SCORED DARIN ERSTAD.
CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2, CHI WHITE SOX 3

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: D RICHAR (.208, 4 HR, 10 RBI)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 2 0 2 3 0
CHI WHITE SOX 1 2 3 4 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
CHA - JAVIER VAZQUEZ

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: N PUNTO (.198, 1 HR, 22 RBI)
J TYNER (.299, 1-FOR-1)
J BARTLETT (.276, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (2) VS CHI WHITE SOX (3) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .299
J Bartlett ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .276
T Hunter cf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .292
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .280
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .276
G Jones dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182
B Buscher 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .263
C Heintz c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
N Punto 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .198

Totals 8 2 3 2 0 2 2

BATTING: RBI - T Hunter (98), J Morneau (100). Team LOB - 0.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Morneau (1, 2nd base by J Vazquez/A Pierzynski).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .243
J Fields lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Thome dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .266
P Konerko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
A Pierzynski c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
D Erstad rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260
J Uribe ss 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .221
D Richar 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
A Gonzalez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205

Totals 10 3 4 3 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - J Owens (7, C Silva). HR - J Uribe (16, 2nd inning off C Silva 1
on, 0 Out). RBI - J Thome (74), J Uribe 2 (55). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Pierzynski 1. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Pierzynski-D Richar).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 20 -- 2
CHI WHITE SOX - 12 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 2 4 3 3 0 0 1 4.44

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Vazquez 2 3 2 2 0 2 0 3.97

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 31-23; J Vazquez 24-19. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 3-3; J Vazquez 2-1. Batters faced: C Silva 10; J Vazquez 8.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 2 0 0 2 4 0
CHI WHITE SOX 1 2 3 4 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
CHA - JAVIER VAZQUEZ

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: J FIELDS (.235, 0-FOR-1)
J THOME (.266, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
P KONERKO (.261, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA (2) VS CHI WHITE SOX (3) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Tyner lf 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .297
J Bartlett ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .275
T Hunter cf 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .292
J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .280
M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .276
G Jones dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .182
B Buscher 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .263
C Heintz c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
N Punto 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .200

Totals 12 2 4 2 0 2 4

BATTING: 2B - N Punto (15, J Vazquez). RBI - T Hunter (98), J Morneau (100).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Hunter 1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Morneau (1, 2nd base by J Vazquez/A Pierzynski).


CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .243
J Fields lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235
J Thome dh 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .266
P Konerko 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
A Pierzynski c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .266
D Erstad rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .260
J Uribe ss 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .221
D Richar 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
A Gonzalez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .205

Totals 10 3 4 3 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - J Owens (7, C Silva). HR - J Uribe (16, 2nd inning off C Silva 1
on, 0 Out). RBI - J Thome (74), J Uribe 2 (55). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - A Pierzynski 1. Team LOB - 1.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Pierzynski-D Richar).


----------------------------------------------------
MINNESOTA - 200 -- 2
CHI WHITE SOX - 12 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era
C Silva 2 4 3 3 0 0 1 4.44

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Vazquez 3 4 2 2 0 2 0 3.95

Pitches-strikes: C Silva 31-23; J Vazquez 32-25. Ground balls-fly balls: C
Silva 3-3; J Vazquez 3-3. Batters faced: C Silva 10; J Vazquez 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 78 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 11 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: MINNESOTA at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
MINNESOTA 2 0 0 2 4 0
CHI WHITE SOX 1 2 0 3 6 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: MIN - CARLOS SILVA
CHA - JAVIER VAZQUEZ

DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.280, 0-FOR-1, RBI)
M CUDDYER (.276, 0-FOR-1)
G JONES (.182, 0-FOR-1)</div>