Sox ninth-inning error caps Twins comeback, 7-6

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The Chicago White Sox began their second half-opening four-game series at Minnesota with a solid lead in the AL Central.

After a sudden ninth-inning meltdown to lose the third game of those four, Chicago’s lead over the Twins and Detroit has dwindled to 1 ½ games.

Sox outfielder Alex Rios’ wild throw up the third-base line allowed Michael Cuddyer to score the winning run as the Twins scored four runs in the ninth to win 7-6 in Minneapolis on Sunday.

Combined with the Tigers’ five straight losses, Minnesota’s three-game winning streak has moved it into a tie in second in the Central with the Tigers.

Chicago, which won its ninth straight game in the series opener, has lost three straight for the first time since dropping four in a row April 15-18. Minnesota is on its first three-game winning streak since taking five straight May 27-31.

White Sox (50-41) starter Freddy Garcia was in line for his seventh straight win after allowing three runs over six innings, but closer Bobby Jenks wasted no time helping the Twins off to a great start in the bottom of the ninth, walking Orlando Hudson on 10 pitches and Joe Mauer.

Jason Kubel’s single to center scored Hudson and Cuddyer’s single plated Mauer to cut the Twins’ deficit to 6-5 and chase Jenks.

With reliever Sergio Santos on the hill to put out the fire and still no outs, Jason Repko walked to load the bases and Delmon Young blooped a base hit to center in front of Rios. Pinch runner Nick Punto scored on the play, and Cuddyer dashed home on Rios’ throwing error to clinch the series for Minnesota.

The Twins (49-33) scored first in the second inning. Young’s homer to left plated Jim Thome, who had singled.

Chicago cut Minnesota’s lead in half in the next frame when Gordon Beckham’s double against Twins starter Nick Blackburn scored Alexei Ramirez, who led off the inning with a double.

Cuddyer and Kubel got that run back for the Twins in the fourth, when Kubel singled and Cuddyer drove him home with a triple to center for a 3-1 Minnesota edge.

But the White Sox scored the next five runs, putting them in good position heading into the ninth. Juan Pierre knocked in Ramirez with a groundout in the fifth, and Carlos Quentin doubled home Rios and Paul Konerko after their sixth-inning singles to chase Blackburn.

Reliever Brian Duensing walked Ramirez intentionally and Quentin stole third before Ramon Castro singled in Quentin and Beckham’s single knocked in Ramirez for a 6-3 lead.

Each team had 16 hits. Kubel and Cuddyer were each 3-for-5, while Thome, Young, Danny Valencia and J.J. Hardy each had two hits.

Beckham led the way for Chicago, going 4-for-4. Omar Vizquel, Rios, Konerko, Quentin, and Ramirez all registered two hits.

Duensing (3-1) scattered seven hits over four innings of one-run ball to record the win. Jenks (1-2) took the loss. The Twins’ comeback rescued Blackburn from what would have been his seventh loss in eight decisions.

Quentin left after the sixth inning with a bruised right hand. No more information regarding his condition was immediately available.

NOTES: J.J. Putz pitched a scoreless eighth inning out of the White Sox bullpen. It was his 24th straight shutout outing, tying him with Shingo Takatsu for the longest streak in Sox history. Takatsu did it in 2004. … The White Sox have lost just eight of their last 34 games. … The Twins host the Indians for a three-game set beginning Monday night, with Scott Baker on the mound. Chicago begins a six-game West Coast swing with three tilts in Seattle. Daniel Hudson is set to make his fourth career start Monday night.

BOX SCORE

Photo above: Delmon Young (center) celebrates with teammates Sunday after his ninth-inning hit helped the Twins win 7-6. (David Brewster/Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Video credit – WGN