Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Sam Fuld had two hits, including a two-
run single to cap a three-run seventh inning and the Minnesota Twins held on
for a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
With the win, the Twins avoided being swept in a four-game series by the White
Sox for the first time ever in Minnesota.
It was only their third win in 10 games since the All-Star break.
They loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh against Ronald
Belisario (3-7), who walked Josh Willingham and Eric Fryer before giving up a
single to Chris Parmelee.
The first run scored on Danny Santana's sacrifice fly off Javy Guerra and Fuld
followed with his two-run single to center to make it 4-2.
"I was just trying to stay within my approach and not let the moment get to
me," Fuld said. "I was just trying to shoot it up the middle."
Rookie White Sox catcher Adrian Nieto hit his first career home run in the
eighth off Casey Fien, going the opposite way to left field. Chicago loaded
the bases with one out in the ninth, but Glen Perkins escaped for his 25th
save.
Rookie right-hander Yohan Pino pitched six innings for the Twins, giving up
two runs on four hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Jared Burton (2-2) threw
a perfect seventh inning to pick up the win.
Scott Carroll also went six innings for the White Sox, allowing one run on
four hits and a walk.
Pino walked Jose Abreu with two outs in the first inning and didn't allow
another baserunner until Alejandro De Aza stroked a two-out single to right
field in the fifth for Chicago's first hit.
De Aza was thrown out by Fryer trying to steal second base but the White Sox
took a 2-1 lead with two runs in the sixth inning.
Gordon Beckham sparked the rally with a leadoff double and Adam Eaton slid
head-first into the bag for a one-out single on a play that was reviewed and
upheld as a hit. Beckham scored on Alexei Ramirez's sacrifice fly and Abreu
followed with a double to plate Eaton.
Earlier, Eduardo Escobar hit a one-out double in the third inning and Santana
followed with a triple off the right-field wall to give the Twins a 1-0 lead.
Game Notes
The last time the White Sox swept the Twins franchise on the road was May
18-20, 1947, when they were the Washington Senators. The series included a
doubleheader ... Home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg asked Belisario to remove a
rubber band around his non-pitching wrist at the start of the seventh. Someone
came out and cut it off ... The White Sox remain on the road for a three-game
series in Detroit starting on Tuesday ... The Twins will start a six-game road
trip Tuesday in Kansas City. The last three games are against the White Sox
next weekend.