Gavin Floyd picked a bad night to have his worst outing in almost two months,and the White Sox picked the wrong night to play a poor fundamental game as the Minnesota Twins left town in first place after beating the Sox 6-1. Jason Kubel’s three run homer on Floyd’s 125th and final pitch in the top of the 7th, put the game away. Minnesota took the lead in the top of the first on Orlando Hudson’s one out homer off Floyd. The Sox tied it against Francisco Liriano when they loaded the bases, and A.J.Pierzynski hit a sqibber down the third base line which Danny Valencia had no play on, scoring Alex Rios,but the Sox left the bases loaded for one of three times when Dayan Viciedo flew out to Dena rd`Span in deep CF. The Twins took the lead for good in the second with Sox help.Michael Cuddyer singled,and when he broke for second with Jim Thome at bat, nobody covered second,and Pierzynski’s throw,which would have been on the dime,instead went into CF as Cuddyer took third base. Thome then lifted a sac fly to RF. The Twins got another gift in the third when Floyd balked a run home,allowing Hudson to cross the plate with two outs. Pierzynski doubled with one out in the Sox 4th,but remained on second base.In the 5Th,the Sox loaded the bases with nobody out,but failed to score when Alex Rios bounced back to Liriano who threw home for a force, then Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin both fanned. In the bottom of the 6th,Pierzynski got his third hit of the game,a single and one out later took third on a ground rule double by Omar Vizquel that a fan touched down the left field line. Gordon Beckham was hit by a 3-2 pit to load the bases,but Juan Pierre lined to Span in shallow CF, causing the runners to hold. Matt Gurrier relieved Liriano and Alexi Ramirez popped up to short. Floyd(8-9)gave up a lead off double to Alexi Casilla in the top of the seventh,and two outs later the Sox chose to intentionally walk Joe Mauer. Kubel then launched his three run bomb to left center.
NOTES—Attendance was 33,237,meaning none of the three games in this show down series were sold out….The Sox host Detroit this weekend.Friday night’s game has Mark Buehrle(10-9)opposing Jeremy Bonderman(6-7)…..The Sox optioned Viciedo to Class AAA Charlotte and will activate Mark Teahen off the DL.
LES