The story appears on

Page A12

August 14, 2010

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

HomeSportsBaseball

Twins take AL Central lead


THE streaking Minnesota Twins moved into first place in the American League Central division with a 6-1 victory over rivals Chicago White Sox on Thursday.

Minnesota starting pitcher Francisco Liriano tossed 5-2/3 innings in the win and Jason Kubel broke the game open with a three-run home run in the seventh inning to lift the Twins (65-50) past the White Sox (64-51) in the standings.

Chicago starter Gavin Floyd, who gave up a run in each of the first three innings, allowed all six runs and 10 hits over 6-2/3 innings.

"We have six more games with them, and a ton of baseball in between those six," Floyd told reporters.

"Anything can happen."

The teams began their three-game series tied at the top of the division and split the first two, but the Twins captured the finale with their sixth win in eight contests.

Minnesota second baseman Orlando Hudson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the first and Liriano won his fifth straight decision to improve to 11-7 on the year.

Liriano is enjoying his best season since undergoing major arm surgery in 2006 that setback his career.

The young left-hander exited in the sixth where Chicago had the bases loaded with two outs before Twins reliever Matt Guerrier got the final out of the inning.

Catcher AJ Pierzynski went 3-for-4 and had the only RBI for the White Sox, who have dropped four of their last five games.

In Toronto, Fred Lewis hit a sacrifice fly that capped a four-run rally in the ninth inning as the Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 6-5.

The Blue Jays trailed 2-5 before Jose Bautista chased Red Sox starter John Lackey by leading off the ninth with his major league-leading 36th homer. Jonathan Papelbon (4-5) came on and blew his sixth save try of the season, and his first in 25 career chances against the Blue Jays.

Elsewhere, in the American League, it was: Indians 4, Orioles 1; and Yankees 4, Royals 3.

In the National League, Casey McGehee set a team record with his ninth straight hit, going 4 for 4 in Milwaukee's 8-4 win over Arizona.

In action elsewhere, it was: Giants 8, Cubs 7; Padres 3, Pirates 0; Phillies 10, Dodgers 9; and Marlins 5, Nationals 0.

 

Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

娌叕缃戝畨澶 31010602000204鍙

Email this to your friend