Twins Hold On For 7-6 Win Over White Sox
CHICAGO (AP) -- Jason Kubel and Luke Hughes homered during Minnesota's six-run first inning, and the Twins beat the White Sox 7-6 on Wednesday to snap Chicago's five-game winning streak.
Kubel and Hughes each hit a two-run shot off Jake Peavy (6-7), who allowed four consecutive extra-base hits during his rocky opening inning. Trevor Plouffe, Joe Mauer and Michael Cuddyer hit three straight doubles to plate the first two runs.
Scott Diamond (1-2) allowed three runs and three hits in six innings to earn his first major league win. Joe Nathan yielded Paul Konerko's two-run single in the ninth before finishing for his 12th save.
Brent Lillibridge hit a two-run homer, walked and scored twice for the White Sox, who dropped to six games back of AL Central-leading Detroit. Juan Pierre singled, walked twice and scored two runs.
Peavy (6-7) allowed six runs and eight hits over five innings, falling to 2-6 with a 5.77 ERA since a relief appearance on June 25.
The costly streak of extra-base hits started after Jason Repko began the game with a harmless grounder to third. Mauer drove in Plouffe to give him 500 career RBIs. Cuddyer then doubled in Mauer and scored when Kubel lofted a fly ball to left that got some help from the wind and barely cleared the outstretched glove of a leaping Pierre.
Kubel's third homer in his last four games was his 14th in 39 career games at U.S. Cellular Field.
After Danny Valencia struck out, Rene Tosoni singled and Hughes hit a drive to left-center for his seventh homer.
Repko added a two-out drive in the seventh for the Twins, who went 7-21 in August for the club's worst-ever record in the month.
Peavy settled down after the rough start, giving the White Sox a chance to get back into the game. Lillibridge hit a two-run homer in the third and came all the way around from first to score on Konerko's double in the sixth.
Alex Rios hit an RBI single in the eighth but Chicago left the bases loaded when Tyler Flowers lined out to third to end the inning.
The White Sox mounted another challenge in the ninth, but Nathan struck out Rios with a runner on first to end the game.
NOTES: Chicago OF Carlos Quentin said his sprained left shoulder has improved but he wasn't willing to put a timetable on his possible return. He's been on the disabled list since Aug. 21. . Twins 1B Justin Morneau (mild concussion symptoms) has to be cleared by the league before he can return. Morneau jammed his shoulder on Sunday and experienced headaches, prompting a concussion test. . After a day off, the Twins begin a three-game road series against the Angels on Friday with Carl Pavano going against Los Angeles ace Jered Weaver. . The White Sox begin a crucial three-game series at first-place Detroit on Friday. John Danks will start the opener against Tigers ace Justin Verlander, who is 20-5. Verlander's last loss came against Chicago on July 15. ... Much-maligned White Sox slugger Adam Dunn hit for Lillibridge with runners on second and third in the ninth and struck out swinging.
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