Chi White Sox (86-70) at Minnesota (85-72)

TV: CSN | Radio: WSCR 670 8:10 pm ET Metrodome TV: FSN | Radio: KSTP-AM/TRN
cws

Just another game for steely Buehrle

Scott Merkin / MLB.com
If he has said it once, he has said it 100 times. Mark Buehrle doesn't believe in the big-game theory. The left-hander, who has a 21-12 career mark against the Twins, treats every trip to the mound the same way.
Full story >

White Sox probable pitcher

Mark Buehrle

  • #56 LHP
  • (14-11) 3.87 ERA 131 SO
White Sox: Pitching on three days' rest, Buehrle handcuffed the Royals over six innings during a 9-4 victory on Friday. The southpaw allowed three runs, all in the bottom of the fourth and courtesy of Mark Teahen's home run, over six innings, striking out two and walking one. Buehrle threw 93 pitches, so he should be more than ready to go on regular rest at the Metrodome. Buehrle also became the only active pitcher to make 30 starts, pitch 200 innings and win 10 games for eight straight seasons. Buehrle has a 1-2 record with a 5.79 ERA against Minnesota this season and an 0-1 mark at the Metrodome. Lifetime, Buehrle stands at 21-12 against the Twins -- his most wins against any opponent. He also has 10 wins at the Metrodome, second-most to his 67 at U.S. Cellular Field.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 121-86 3.81 1833.2 420 1074 .269
Season 14-11 3.87 204.2 47 131 .279
September 3-0 2.13 25.1 5 21 .237
Vs. Minnesota 1-2 5.79 18.2 5 10 .308

Series at a Glance

Standings - 09/24/2008 W L PCT GB Home Away
Chicago White Sox (AL Central) 86 70 .551 - 51-26 35-44
Minnesota Twins (AL Central) 85 72 .541 1.5 50-26 35-46
Stats - 09/24/2008 AVG R HR RBI SB SO ERA IP H BB SO
CWS .264 775 224 753 63 981 4.02 1395.0 1405 438 1092
MIN .280 810 111 773 97 936 4.20 1405.0 1514 392 953
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.
Full story >

Twins probable pitcher

Nick Blackburn

  • #53 RHP
  • (10-10) 4.15 ERA 91 SO
Twins: Fatigue has seemed to plague the Twins' starting staff of late, and Blackburn was its latest victim. The right-hander lasted just 1 1/3 innings against the Rays in his last start, giving up six earned runs on six hits. He faced 12 batters while recording just the four outs. Blackburn has already topped his career high in innings in a season, with 181 1/3. The Twins will try to see if Blackburn might be able to push through one more regular-season start against the White Sox. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 6.14 ERA in four starts vs. Chicago this season.
  W-L ERA IP BB SO AVG
Career 10-12 4.37 193.2 36 99 .297
Season 10-10 4.15 182.0 34 91 .292
September 1-2 7.58 19.0 4 11 .329
Vs. Chi White Sox 1-2 6.14 22.0 7 10 .322

White Sox hitters vs Nick Blackburn

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Armstrong, Cole - - - - - - - -
Beckham, Gordon - - - - - - - -
Castro, Ramon - - - - - - - -
De Aza, Alejandro - - - - .667 3 1 1
Flowers, Tyler - - - - - - - -
Konerko, Paul .125 8 0 0 .067 15 0 0
Kotsay, Mark - - - - - - - -
Lillibridge, Brent - - - - - - - -
Nix, Jayson - - - - - - - -
Pierzynski, A.J. .375 8 0 2 .417 12 0 2
Podsednik, Scott - - - - .500 2 0 0
Quentin, Carlos .333 9 1 1 .333 9 1 1
Ramirez, Alexei .500 2 0 0 .600 5 0 0
Rios, Alex .333 3 0 0 .333 3 0 0
Teahen, Mark .167 6 0 0 .286 7 0 0
Viciedo, Dayan - - - - - - - -

Twins hitters vs Mark Buehrle

  2008 2003-2007
Hitter AVG AB HR RBI AVG AB HR RBI
Butera, Drew - - - - - - - -
Cabrera, Orlando - - - - .294 34 1 5
Casilla, Alexi .333 6 0 0 .231 13 0 0
Crede, Joe - - - - - - - -
Cuddyer, Michael .167 6 0 0 .278 54 2 7
Hardy, J.J. - - - - - - - -
Harris, Brendan .000 7 0 0 .313 16 0 0
Hughes, Luke - - - - - - - -
Kubel, Jason - - - - .000 3 0 0
Mauer, Joe .000 3 0 0 .182 22 0 3
Morales, Jose - - - - - - - -
Morneau, Justin .300 10 1 3 .237 38 2 10
Plouffe, Trevor - - - - - - - -
Pridie, Jason - - - - - - - -
Punto, Nick .400 5 0 3 .303 33 0 5
Ramos, Wilson - - - - - - - -
Redmond, Mike .556 9 0 1 .500 28 0 2
Romero, Deibinson - - - - - - - -
Span, Denard .333 3 1 2 .333 6 1 3
Tolbert, Matt .500 2 0 0 .500 2 0 0
Tolleson, Steven - - - - - - - -
Young, Delmon .250 8 1 1 .389 18 1 1

AL Central: Too close to call (86-71) (86-72)

Twins 3, White Sox 2

Now it's a race

Scott Merkin / MLB.com
The White Sox have seen their division lead cut to a half-game after a second straight loss to the second-place Twins. Mark Buehrle battled his command in the first two innings and the Twins capitalized early. Ken Griffey Jr. hit career homer No. 611, a solo shot.

Full story >

White Sox Wrap >

More White Sox Headlines

Tickets | MLB.TV | Multimedia | Shop

Series at a Glance

 
Joe Mauer contributed two of Minnesota's three runs via groundouts. (AP)

Nipping at their heels

Kelly Thesier / MLB.com
The Twins have done exactly what they needed to do by taking the first two games of the critical AL Central showdown with the White Sox to creep to within a half-game of first place. Joe Mauer drove in two runs without a hit. Nick Blackburn earned the win with his damage control.
Full story >

Twins Wrap >

More Twins Headlines

Tickets | MLB.TV | Multimedia | Shop

Twins 3, White Sox 2

Chi White SoxABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Wise, LF4000116.270
Cabrera, SS4020001.283
Dye, RF4000002.286
Thome, DH3110110.245
Konerko, 1B4000002.241
Griffey Jr., CF4112000.246
Ramirez, 2B4020000.296
Pierzynski, C4020000.281
Uribe, 3B3010002.250
  a-Swisher, PH0000100.221
  1-Owens, PR0000000.250
Totals342923213 

a-Walked for Uribe in the 9th.
1-Ran for Swisher in the 9th.

BATTING
2B: Thome (27, Blackburn).
HR: Griffey Jr. (18, 4th inning off Blackburn, 0 on, 1 out).
TB: Cabrera 2; Thome 2; Griffey Jr. 4; Ramirez 2; Pierzynski 2; Uribe.
RBI: Griffey Jr. 2 (71).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Wise 4.
GIDP: Cabrera; Dye.
Team LOB: 8.

FIELDING
DP: (Cabrera-Ramirez-Konerko).
 
MinnesotaABRHRBIBBSOLOBAVG
Span, RF3111100.294
Casilla, 2B3010110.285
Mauer, C4002003.327
Morneau, 1B3010103.308
Kubel, DH3000102.274
Young, LF4030002.296
Harris, 3B3020001.264
Punto, SS4100014.282
Gomez, CF4110033.258
Totals313934518 

BATTING
TB: Span; Casilla; Morneau; Young 3; Harris 2; Gomez.
RBI: Mauer 2 (81), Span (43).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Young; Morneau; Gomez 2; Kubel.
S: Harris.
GIDP: Kubel.
Team LOB: 9.

FIELDING
DP: 2 (Punto-Morneau, Blackburn-Casilla-Morneau).
 
Chi White SoxIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Buehrle (L, 14-12)7.08334303.87
Linebrink 1.01000203.00
 
MinnesotaIPHRERBBSOHRERA
Blackburn (W, 11-10)5.08222214.14
Breslow (H, 5)1.00000001.97
Bonser (H, 2)1.01000005.91
Mijares, Jo (H, 2)1.00000001.29
Nathan (S, 39)1.00001001.40

WP: Buehrle.
Pitches-strikes: Buehrle 121-76, Linebrink 13-10, Blackburn 84-58, Breslow 7-4, Bonser 12-9, Mijares, Jo 12-7, Nathan 20-10.
Groundouts-flyouts: Buehrle 15-3, Linebrink 1-0, Blackburn 9-4, Breslow 1-2, Bonser 1-2, Mijares, Jo 2-1, Nathan 2-1.
Batters faced: Buehrle 32, Linebrink 4, Blackburn 23, Breslow 3, Bonser 4, Mijares, Jo 3, Nathan 4.
Umpires: HP: Alfonso Marquez. 1B: Mike Reilly. 2B: Andy Fletcher. 3B: Bob Davidson.
Weather: 68 degrees, dome.
Wind: Indoors.
T: 2:42.
Att: 42,126.
September 24, 2008

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