White Sox 4, Twins 3
CHICAGO -- Jose Quintana pitched six effective innings for his first win in a month, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.
Quintana, who entered the night with a major-league-leading and American League-record 17 no-decisions, allowed one run and eight hits while striking out five for his first win since beating the Twins on Aug. 16. Since that win, Quintana was 0-2 in five starts despite a 3.03 ERA.
This time, Quintana (8-6) got enough support for the win, and much of it came from Dayan Viciedo.
Viciedo, batting in the No. 3 spot for the first time this year, was 3-for-5 with two RBIs and provided just enough offense for the White Sox one day after their 12-1 victory in the series opener.
Addison Reed got his 38th save in 44 tries for Chicago, which has found some success recently against Minnesota.
Chicago had lost 15 of 17 and six straight before winning the first two of the Minnesota series, increasing its run of success against the Twins to five straight games. The White Sox also locked up their first series victory since taking two of three against Houston from Aug. 26-28.
Twins starter Mike Pelfrey (5-13) has struggled against Chicago, and that trend continued Tuesday.
In 4 1/3 innings, Pelfrey allowed nine hits and three runs. Pelfrey hasn't won since beating Detroit on Aug. 20, and he fell to 0-3 facing the White Sox this season.
Still, the Twins almost got Pelfrey off the hook and denied Quintana the win.
In the seventh, Minnesota scored twice thanks in part to a White Sox error.
Trevor Plouffe's infield single went off Jake Petricka's left wrist, bringing in Darin Mastroianni. Oswaldo Arcia then grounded into a fielder's choice, but Gordon Beckham's relay throw was errant, allowing Brian Dozier to score from second.
Matt Lindstrom struck out Josh Willingham and got Josmil Pinto to ground to third, keeping Chicago's lead at 4-3.
With one out in the ninth, Plouffe flied out to deep center against Reed, with Alejandro De Aza making a catch against the wall. Alexei Ramirez then ended the game by making a diving catch on an Alex Presley liner.
The White Sox took the lead in the second, scoring once on three hits. Following one-out singles by Beckham and Josh Phegley, Marcus Semien singled to left to drive in Beckham. De Aza flied to center, and Ramirez walked to load the bases, but Pelfrey struck out Viciedo swinging to end the frame.
Minnesota, which didn't score until the eighth inning Monday, tied the game in the third on Plouffe's one-out double. Dozier reached on a fielder's choice with one out when Beckham's relay throw on a potential double-play grounder was wide. Plouffe then doubled into the right field corner to tie the game.
Chicago retook the lead in the fifth, scoring two more runs on four hits. Pelfrey had retired seven straight until De Aza's bunt single started the inning. Ramirez's double to left then drove in De Aza, giving Chicago a 2-1 lead, and after Ramirez got to third on the throw home, he scored on a Viciedo single to left.
Pelfrey struck out Dunn for the first out before Konerko singled, ending Pelfrey's night on his 96th pitch.
NOTES: Minnesota C Joe Mauer, out since Aug. 19 with a concussion, worked out at home Tuesday and is doing well in his recovery, Twins GM Terry Ryan said. Mauer might go to Target Field on Wednesday, and it's possible he could rejoin the Twins when they start a four-game series Thursday in Oakland. ... White Sox LHP Hector Santiago's next start will be pushed back. The White Sox announced their rotation for this weekend against Detroit, and Santiago is not scheduled to take his turn Friday. Santiago is 4-9 with a 3.53 ERA in 142 2/3 innings, and 0-2 with a 5.21 ERA in his last four starts. ... RHP Liam Hendriks' next start for Minnesota is unclear. Hendriks gave up seven runs in two-thirds of an inning Monday, and dropped to 1-3 with a 6.87 ERA. RHP Cole De Vries is the other possibility to start in Hendriks' spot, which is due Sunday in Oakland. ... OF Avisail Garcia was not in the Chicago lineup for the third straight day. His wife gave birth to the couple's first child Monday. ... Wednesday's pitching matchup is Minnesota LHP Scott Diamond (5-11, 5.71 ERA) against Chicago LHP John Danks (4-13, 4.73).
