Twins Score Go-Ahead Run On Error In 10th
CHICAGO (AP) — The Twins took advantage of an error to beat the White Sox. Still, Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire knows why they were in position to come out on top.
"It starts with your starter," Gardenhire said after a 2-1 victory over Chicago in 10 innings Saturday. "He went deep in the game and got himself out of trouble. . He did a nice job of going out there and settling everything down and he got his last hitters."
Worley bounced back from a poor outing in which he allowed nine runs in an inning in the shortest start of his career. This time he gave up a run and five hits in seven innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
"I had it figured out," Worley said. "I pitched. It wasn't me trying to overdo anything out there. It was just going after hitters and trusting my mechanics. Thus (it) made pitching a little easier."
Ryan Doumit doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the 10th inning on Alexei Ramirez's throwing error.
Doumit led off with a double off Hector Santiago (0-1). After Aaron Hicks popped up a bunt attempt, Eduardo Escobar hit a slow grounder that shortstop Ramirez fielded cleanly but bounced his throw to first base. Escobar was safe on an infield hit and Doumit scored to help Minnesota snap a four-game skid against the White Sox.
"I was aggressive and I missed the fastball l was looking for — twice," Escobar said through a translator. "And then I got a changeup and was lucky enough to put it in play."
Casey Fien (1-1) got one out for the win.
White Sox starter Jake Peavy was also effective. Peavy allowed one run and six hits, struck out nine and walked four in seven innings.
"It was a well-pitched game on both sides — Peavy as advertised. We know he's always tough," Gardenhire said. "He seems to ad-lib and kind of figure things out as he's going along during a game. He can come from so many angles and throw so many pitches. And Worley matched him, did a heck of a job."
Peavy received little help from his offense, which struck out 13 times and had six hits.
"All it's going to take is a few big hits here and there to ease the tension, a few big homers," Peavy said. "We live and die with the home run and we just haven't hit many of them here of late. In the games we have won, we won it with the long ball."
Alejandro De Aza's home run off Worley in the first inning put the White Sox ahead 1-0. The drive to right field was De Aza's fifth career leadoff homer.
"I was frustrated by that," Worley said. "I threw him a changeup the second pitch of the inning and he swung right through it. I said, 'All right, why not? I can go back to it.' And he was sitting right on it. It happens."
The Twins tied it 1-all on Josh Willingham's single off Peavy in the third. Brian Dozier scored after reaching on a single and advancing on a walk.
Tyler Flowers drew a one-out walk in the 10th before De Aza struck out and Jeff Keppinger popped out to end the game.
The teams combined for 22 strikeouts.
"I was able to command both sides of the plate today and everything broke the way I wanted it to and (I got) better results," Worley said.
The White Sox had won 12 of their last 14 against the Twins.
The Twins loaded the bases with three walks against three different pitchers in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Wilkin Ramirez hit a grounder to third, and third baseman Conor Gillaspie threw home to prevent a run from scoring. Dozier popped out in foul territory to end the inning. Matt Lindstrom, Donnie Veal and Nate Jones each allowed a walk in the inning.
The Twins were coming off three straight days off. They were rained out on Wednesday against the Angels, scheduled off Thursday and postponed due to cold and windy conditions on Friday against the White Sox.
"I think everybody's rested, everybody's available," Gardenhire said. "That's pretty easy to say. Three days is not what you look to, but Mother Nature decided it was time to take a break."
Joe Mauer singled in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.
The White Sox returned home after losing seven of 10 games on the road.
NOTES: White Sox OF Dayan Viciedo was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left oblique. Viciedo was injured while batting in the eighth inning at Toronto on Thursday, and the roster move was made retroactive to Friday. He is batting .229 (11 for 48) with two homers and five RBIs in 13 games. OF Blake Tekotte was recalled Saturday from Triple-A Charlotte, where he began the season on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Jordan Danks started in center field and De Aza moved to left field to replace Viciedo on Saturday. ... Pitching coach Don Cooper rejoined the White Sox on Saturday after missing all of the 10-game road trip for diverticulitis, a stomach illness. "What it amounted to for me was a bad, bad, bad stomach ache for five days," Cooper said. "There are so many people that have it so much worse, every day waking up with pain. I'm not going to beef about it." ... Reports about LHP John Danks' progress at extended spring training in Arizona have been positive, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. Danks has been on the disabled list since March 22 while recovering from left shoulder surgery. "He's been able to do all his exercises and he continues to progress," Hahn said.
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