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September 25, 2009

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Twins complete sweep of White Sox

MINNESOTA'S pursuit of the Detroit Tigers got a big boost when the Twins swept three games against the Chicago White Sox to start a challenging 10-game road trip.

Now the Twins are hoping Chicago will again help them out when the American League Central-leading Tigers visit US Cellular Field for a three-game series beginning tomorrow.

"We won our games and we also got a couple of (White Sox) guys hot so they can go play Detroit," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said after his team's 8-6 win over Chicago on Wednesday night.

"Jermaine Dye, we put him on the right track. Now maybe he can take care of the Motown guys."

Dye, who entered the game in a 12-for-93 slump, had a single and two homers, the first of which ended a 58-game homerless streak. That wasn't enough for the defending AL Central champions White Sox, who can be eliminated from the playoff race if they lose to the Tigers.

Nick Punto drove in three runs and Brian Duensing won his fifth straight decision for the Twins, who trail Detroit by 2 1/2 games. Minnesota plays three in Kansas City before going to Detroit for a four-game series.

"We're just going out there and try to chase the Tigers," Punto said.

"This is the reason we play baseball. Anytime you play baseball in September, it means something. That's what it's all about."

Elsewhere in the AL, it was: Yankees 3, Angels 2; Tigers 11, Indians 3; Blue Jays 7, Orioles 3; Rays 5, Mariners 4; Red Sox 9, Royals 2; and Rangers 9, Athletics 8.

In the National League, it was: Reds 12, Pirates 2; Nationals 5, Dodgers 4; Braves 5, Mets 2; Marlins 7, Phillies 6; Brewers 3, Cubs 2; Astros 3, Cardinals 0; Padres 6, Rockies 3; and Giants 5, Diamondbacks 2.

In Chicago, Duensing (5-1), who is 5-0 in his last seven starts, entered the game with a 13 1/3-innings scoreless streak spanning his two previous outings. He allowed a run in the fourth on Carlos Quentin's two-out RBI single that cut Minnesota's lead to 5-1.

Duensing gave up nine hits and four runs - three earned - in 5 2/3 innings. Joe Nathan, the Twins' fourth reliever, pitched a shaky ninth for his 44th save.

The Twins, who scored 23 runs in the three-game series, knocked out Chicago ace Mark Buehrle (12-10) after 3 1/3 innings. Buehrle, 1-7 in 12 starts since pitching a perfect game on July 23, gave up eight hits and was charged with five runs, four earned.

The White Sox were tied for first place after Buehrle's gem and never got back on top.

"It's always disappointing when you look up and you lose games and you have an under .500 record and you have no chance of going to the postseason," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said.

"It's very frustrating and it all stinks. Just losing gets old after a while. You try to do everything in your power, but it seems like something bad got in this team."





 

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