Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham each
knocked in two runs as the Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox, 6-5, to
complete a four-game sweep on Sunday.
Brian Dozier and Sam Fuld added an RBI apiece for the Twins, who saw starter
Phil Hughes (8-3) give up five runs on eight hits over five innings.
"I just struggled with command," Hughes said. "Our bullpen stepped up big
today."
Jose Abreu and Gordon Beckham each had two RBI for the White Sox, who got
swept in a four-game set by Minnesota for the first time since June 9-12,
1994.
Chicago starter John Danks (6-6), who had won his previous three starts,
allowed six runs on 10 hits with four walks over five-plus innings. He fell to
0-6 over his last eight starts against Minnesota.
"It's just one of those days I guess, it certainly wasn't fun," Danks said.
The Twins jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Danny Santana and Dozier
walked to get things going. Santana moved to third when Mauer flied out and
Dozier advanced to second on a wild pitch. Willingham followed with an RBI
fielder's choice.
Minnesota tacked on two more runs in the second. Kurt Suzuki led off with a
double down the left-field line, but was thrown out at the plate on Eduardo
Escobar's single. Fuld followed with an RBI double to right. He then stole
third and raced home on Mauer's single to center.
The White Sox scored all five of their runs in the third. With the bases
loaded and one out, Beckham hit a two-run double to left-center field. Abreu
added a two-run single up the middle.
With Adam Dunn at the plate, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected by home-
plate umpire D.J. Reyburn for arguing balls and strikes. Dunn then struck out
swinging before Alexei Ramirez's infield single put men on the corners. Conor
Gillaspie's RBI single to left-center field made it 5-3.
But the Twins went back in front with a three-run fourth. Fuld walked and
Santana singled to put men on first and second with one out. Dozier and Mauer
hit consecutive run-scoring singles, and Willingham's sacrifice fly made it
6-5 Minnesota.
The Twins' bullpen closed out the game from there.
Anthony Swarzak tossed two scoreless innings, Casey Fien pitched a perfect
eighth and Jared Burton retired the side in order in the ninth to pick up his
first save of the season.
Game Notes
Danks fell to 6-12 lifetime versus Minnesota ... The White Sox have lost seven
straight road games ... The Twins had 11 hits.