Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox are glad to be back home.
Following a rough 1-6 road trip, Gordon Beckham tallied two hits, including a
two-run homer, and three RBI as the White Sox won their eighth straight home
game in a 4-2 triumph over the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game
set.
Making his first major-league start, Hector Santiago (3-1) fanned six and
surrendered a run on three hits and three walks over five-plus innings for
Chicago, which regained sole possession of first place in the AL Central after
the Detroit Tigers lost to the Cleveland Indians on Monday.
The Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the White Sox over the weekend.
Jamey Carroll smacked his first round-tripper as a Twin, while Samuel Deduno
(5-3) allowed two runs on six hits and three walks over six innings for
Minnesota, which has dropped five of its last eight contests.
The White Sox struck first with a pair of runs in the second. A.J. Pierzynski
led off with a single and three batters later, Beckham laced a bullet
into the seats in left field.
Carroll cracked a one-out solo shot over the wall in left field to cut the
deficit in half in the fifth, but Chicago got the run back in the seventh.
Kevin Youkilis hit a one-out double to left field and after Adam Dunn flied
out, Paul Konerko brought Youkilis home with a single back up the middle,
which gave Chicago a 3-1 edge.
Justin Morneau's RBI single to center field again brought the Twins within a
run in the eighth, but the White Sox countered in the home half when Beckham
poked an RBI single into left field, which gave the hosts a 4-2 advantage.
Addison Reed tossed a scoreless ninth to notch his 25th save of the season.
Game Notes
The White Sox have won 22 of their last 27 home tilts ... Chicago was
outscored 32-21 during its seven-game road trip ... Chicago was 2-for-8 with
runners in scoring position, while Minnesota finished 1-for-9.
The Sports Network