Chi White Sox (86-69) at Minnesota (84-72)

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cws

Vazquez eager to prove ace ability

Scott Merkin / MLB.com
Javier Vazquez has worked hard to shake the label as a middle-of-the-rotation kind of hurler. He'll get his next chance on Tuesday when the White Sox open a definitive three-game series against the Twins at the Metrodome.
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White Sox probable pitcher

Javier Vazquez

  • #33 RHP
  • (12-14) 4.32 ERA 192 SO
White Sox: Working on three days rest has not exactly been a recipe for success during Vazquez's career. The right-hander made his third start while coming back in this short period and slipped to 0-3 overall in Thursday's 9-2 loss to the Yankees. Vazquez allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on six hits over 3 2/3 innings. He struck out four, walked four and threw 88 pitches during his trip to the mound. The White Sox brought back Vazquez on three days, in part, to have him rested and ready for the start of the series in the Metrodome on Tuesday. Vazquez has a 2-0 record with a 5.11 ERA against Minnesota this season and holds a 6-5 career mark against the Twins. Vazquez also has a 1-4 ledger in the Metrodome.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 127-127 4.28 2262.1 601 2007 .259
Season 12-14 4.32 200.0 58 192 .260
September 2-2 3.86 23.1 10 22 .224
Vs. Minnesota 2-0 5.11 12.1 3 12 .320

Series at a Glance

Standings - 09/23/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago White Sox (AL Central) 86 69 .555 - 51-26 35-43
Minnesota Twins (AL Central) 84 72 .538 2.5 49-26 35-46
Stats - 09/23/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CWS .264 772 223 751 63 977 3.98 1387.0 1393 436 1089
MIN .280 801 108 764 95 933 4.21 1396.0 1508 389 949
min

Blackburn ready for critical showdown

Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
Nick Blackburn has heard all the concerns about whether fatigue might be the reason for his recent struggles, but he admits part of the problem is that he's been placing too much pressure on himself to deliver in big games.
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Twins probable pitcher

Scott Baker

  • #30 RHP
  • (9-4) 3.69 ERA 128 SO
Twins: Pitching on only three days rest, Baker was forced to throw a lot of pitches early in his last start against the Indians. He lasted just 4 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits. Baker didn't want to use the short rest as an excuse, but it appeared to affect him. The right-hander will now get an extra day before his next start against the White Sox thanks to Monday's off-day. Baker is 2-2 with a 7.99 ERA in seven career starts against Chicago, including going 1-0 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts vs. the South Siders this season.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 26-24 4.35 439.0 99 324 .277
Season 9-4 3.69 158.1 40 128 .252
September 1-0 4.00 18.0 8 14 .219
Vs. Chi White Sox 1-0 5.73 11.0 4 15 .233

White Sox hitters vs Scott Baker

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Armstrong, Cole - - - - - - - -
Beckham, Gordon - - - - - - - -
Castro, Ramon - - - - - - - -
De Aza, Alejandro - - - - - - - -
Flowers, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Konerko, Paul .333 3 1 1 .294 17 2 3
Kotsay, Mark - - - - .167 6 0 1
Lillibridge, Brent - - - - - - - -
Nix, Jayson - - - - - - - -
Pierzynski, A.J. .400 5 0 2 .250 12 0 2
Podsednik, Scott - - - - .750 4 1 2
Quentin, Carlos .200 5 0 0 .200 5 0 0
Ramirez, Alexei .000 3 0 0 .167 6 0 0
Rios, Alex - - - - .125 8 0 0
Teahen, Mark .333 6 0 0 .304 23 0 2
Viciedo, Dayan - - - - - - - -

Twins hitters vs Javier Vazquez

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Butera, Drew - - - - - - - -
Casilla, Alexi .333 3 0 0 .167 6 0 0
Cuddyer, Michael .333 3 1 1 .343 35 2 6
De Los Santos, Estarlin - - - - - - - -
Hardy, J.J. - - - - .500 4 0 1
Harris, Brendan .250 4 0 0 .273 11 0 0
Hughes, Luke - - - - - - - -
Kubel, Jason .200 5 0 0 .174 23 2 4
Mauer, Joe .667 6 0 2 .300 30 0 3
Morales, Jose - - - - - - - -
Morneau, Justin .200 5 0 1 .350 40 6 13
Plouffe, Trevor - - - - - - - -
Pridie, Jason - - - - - - - -
Punto, Nick - - - - .250 28 1 2
Ramos, Wilson - - - - - - - -
Span, Denard .333 3 0 0 .167 6 0 0
Tolbert, Matt - - - - - - - -
Tolleson, Steven - - - - - - - -
Valencia, Danny - - - - - - - -
Young, Delmon .333 6 0 0 .438 16 0 1

More Kubel! Jason brings Twins closer (86-70) (85-72)

Twins 9, White Sox 3

Vazquez loses big one

Scott Merkin / MLB.com
Javier Vazquez struggled to contain the Twins early and left after four ineffective innings. The White Sox offense couldn't get anything going against Scott Baker, and though Ken Griffey passed Sammy Sosa with his 610th homer, Minnesota cut Chicago's AL Central lead to 1 1/2 games.

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Series at a Glance

 
Jason Kubel is congratulated by Justin Morneau after his first homer. (AP)

Twins closing in

Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
Scott Baker shut down the White Sox as his offense beat up on Javier Vazquez, led by Jason Kubel, who went deep twice and drove in three runs, and Justin Morneau, who set a club record with his 47th double. Minnesota moved within 1 1/2 games in the AL Central.
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Twins 9, White Sox 3

Chi White SoxABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Cabrera, SS4010002.281
Pierzynski, C4000014.280
  Phillips, C0000000.000
Dye, RF4000010.288
Thome, DH4110010.245
Konerko, 1B3110100.243
Griffey Jr., CF3112101.246
Ramirez, 2B4010010.294
Wise, LF3000002.280
Uribe, 3B2010102.249
Totals313623411 

BATTING
HR: Griffey Jr. (17, 9th inning off Guerrier, 1 on, 2 out).
TB: Cabrera; Thome; Konerko; Griffey Jr. 4; Ramirez; Uribe.
RBI: Griffey Jr. 2 (69).
2-out RBI: Griffey Jr. 2.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Pierzynski 2.
GIDP: Griffey Jr.; Cabrera.
Team LOB: 4.
 
MinnesotaABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Span, RF5000024.294
Casilla, 2B5000012.285
Mauer, C4110001.329
Morneau, 1B3211100.308
Kubel, DH4333001.276
Young, LF3232100.293
Buscher, 3B3001002.298
Punto, SS4121001.285
Gomez, CF4021002.258
Totals3591292313 

BATTING
2B: Young (28, Vazquez, J), Morneau (47, Richard).
3B: Kubel (5, Vazquez, J).
HR: Kubel 2 (20, 2nd inning off Vazquez, J, 1 on, 0 out; 7th inning off Logan, 0 on, 1 out), Young (10, 7th inning off Logan, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Mauer; Morneau 2; Kubel 11; Young 7; Punto 2; Gomez 2.
RBI: Kubel 3 (78), Young 2 (67), Punto (28), Gomez (57), Morneau (129), Buscher (47).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Span 2; Casilla; Punto; Mauer.
SF: Buscher.
Team LOB: 5.

BASERUNNING
SB: Punto (13, 2nd base off Vazquez, J/Pierzynski), Gomez (32, 2nd base off Vazquez, J/Pierzynski).

FIELDING
DP: 2 (Punto-Morneau, Casilla-Punto-Morneau).
 
Chi White SoxIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Vazquez, J (L, 12-15)4.07551314.46
Richard 2.03221006.25
Logan 0.12220025.95
Carrasco 0.20000003.58
Ramirez, H 1.00000004.17
 
MinnesotaIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Baker (W, 10-4)7.05111403.59
Crain 1.00001003.71
Guerrier 1.01221015.06

IBB: Young (by Richard).
Pitches-strikes: Vazquez, J 78-51, Richard 29-19, Logan 4-4, Carrasco 5-3, Ramirez, H 11-8, Baker 102-73, Crain 9-4, Guerrier 20-10.
Groundouts-flyouts: Vazquez, J 7-2, Richard 3-3, Logan 1-0, Carrasco 2-0, Ramirez, H 2-1, Baker 6-11, Crain 2-1, Guerrier 1-2.
Batters faced: Vazquez, J 20, Richard 10, Logan 3, Carrasco 2, Ramirez, H 3, Baker 26, Crain 3, Guerrier 5.
Umpires: HP: Bob Davidson. 1B: Alfonso Marquez. 2B: Mike Reilly. 3B: Andy Fletcher.
Weather: 69 degrees, dome.
Wind: Indoors.
T: 2:43.
Att: 35,225.
September 23, 2008

Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner