Twins 2, White Sox 1 (10)
CHICAGO -- It was reminiscent of the days not too long ago when the Minnesota Twins used to torment the Chicago White Sox.
After dropping 22 of the previous 28 games against the White Sox dating back to August 5, 2011, the Twins got back to twisting the arm of their American League Central Division rival on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field.
Minnesota churned out a gritty 2-1 victory in 10 innings to push its winning streak to three games and get back to the .500 level at 7-7, while Chicago (7-10) dropped its second straight game and is just 3-7 in the last 10 games.
Ryan Doumit scored the game-winning run after leading off the 10th with a double to left and then coming around on a throwing error to first by Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez.
Glen Perkins picked up the save by pitching a scoreless 10th for the Twins, who got a great start out of Vance Worley and strong showings from all four relievers. Hector Santiago, Chicago's sixth reliever of the game, took the loss for the Sox, who got another strong start out of Jake Peavy through seven innings.
After each allowed an early run, Peavy and Worley took over the game and turned it into a pitcher's duel. Peavy, who stranded runners in scoring position four times, went seven innings and struck out nine, including two of the final four hitters he faced in the top of the seventh to keep it a 1-1 game. Peavy also struck out two in an inning four separate times and got four outs on called strikes.
The only damage against him came in the top of the third, when Brian Dozier singled with one out and scored from second two batters later on Josh Willingham's single up the middle.
Worley was just as effective and deceptive as Peavy, after allowing Alejandro De Aza's solo home run into the bullpen in right field to lead off the Chicago half of the first. Worley struck out two of the next three hitters he faced to get out of the first and fanned three more over the next two innings for five strikeouts in three innings pitched -- all on called third strikes.
Worley, who came into the game 0-2 with a 10.50 earned-run average, had little trouble with the White Sox lineup until the seventh, which he also worked out of without a run crossing the plate. After allowing a lead-off single to Paul Konerko, Worley got two outs before a bloop by Jordan Danks lofted over the mound fell just beyond his glove and charging shortstop Pedro Florimon for a hit.
Worley, who struck out seven in his seven innings of work, then stranded the runners at first and second by getting Tyler Flowers to fly out. Minnesota then loaded the bases in the top of the eighth on three walks issued by three different Chicago relievers, but Nate Jones and a great defensive play got the Sox off the hook.
Conor Gillaspie made a diving stop on a sharply-hit ball to third by pinch hitter Wilkin Ramirez and threw home to get Chris Parmalee before Jones got Dozier to end the inning on a foul pop to Konerko down the first-base line.
NOTES: Chicago placed left fielder Dayan Viciedo on the 15-day disabled list with an oblique strain before the game and called up 25-year old outfielder Blake Tekotte from Class AAA Charlotte. Viciedo, who hurt himself during an at bat on Thursday in Toronto, is hitting .229 with two home runs and five RBI in 13 games. White Sox starting pitcher John Danks was scheduled to make another start in extended spring training and then come to Chicago to meet with coaches and general manager Rick Hahn prior to possibly being sent to the minors on a rehab assignment. ... Mauer's single to right field in the first inning extended his hitting streak to 10 games. He's now two games away from his season high of a year ago and six games away from his career high. ... Minnesota came into the game hitting .296 with runners in scoring position, which ranked third in baseball, but stranded 14 runners and went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position. ... The Twins' designated hitter on Saturday was Oswaldo Arcia, who was on his second call-up from Class AAA Rochester this week.
