Twins 7, Sox 6; Peavy Bombarded in 1st, Dunn and Rios Fail in 9th

Before I could get cozy in my seat today, the Twins jumped all over Jake Peavy for 6 runs in the top of the 1st.  The White Sox battled their way back late, but Ozzie Guillen's managerial decisions sabotaged their comeback efforts as the Sox couldn't complete the sweep against Minnesota.  Unfortunately, the Tigers completed their comeback against the Royals, dropping the Sox back to 6 games back.  

Things started out innocently enough as Peavy retired Jason Repko to begin the game.  Then the extra base hit parade began.  Trevor Plouffe doubled to left center and Joe Mauer brought him in with a ground rule double of his own.  Michael Cuddyer continued the trend as he lined another ground rule double to make it 2-0.  Jason Kubel followed with a wind blown homer to make it 4-0.  After Danny Valencia struck out, Rene Tosoni smashed a single to right and Luke Hughes blasted a 2 run shot of his own to make it 6-0.  Finally someone visited Peavy on the mound, and he got Drew Butera to pop out to mercifully end the inning. 

The Sox started chipping away in the third, as Juan Pierre drew a 2 out walk and scored on Brent Lillibrdige's 13th homer of the season.  

In the 6th, the Sox would get a couple more off of Scott Diamond.  Lillibridge walked with one out and Paul Konerko ripped a double into the left field corner to score Lillibridge.  Unfortunately, Alex Rios struck out looking and Alexei Ramirez grounded out to 2nd to end the inning.  After Rios struck out, he took 3 amazing swings at the bat rack in the dugout.  It was the best contact he'd make all day.  

Jake Peavy settled down and put up goose eggs for the next four innings following his first inning debacle.  Will Ohman got the Twins 3 up 3 down in the 6th, but Jason Frasor couldn't do the same in the 7th as Repko bombed a homer to left to make the game 7-3.  

Matt Capps worked a scoreless 7th, but Glen Perkins got touched up a little bit in the 8th.  Pierre started the inning with a single.  After one out, Konerko drew a walk.  Rios came through with a single to center to score Pierre.  After Alexei struck out, Dayan Viciedo smoked a single to center, but Konerko was unable to score, leaving the bases loaded for Tyler Flowers.  Flowers hit a liner down the third base line, but unfortunately that is where Valencia was playing to end the inning, with the Sox trailing 7-4.

After Matt Thornton and Josh Kinney worked a scoreless 8th and 9th, Joe Nathan came in for the save.  Somebody must have elbowed Ozzie in the dugout, because he finally started managing.  Alejandro De Aza pinch hit for Brent Morel and doubled into left center.  Omar Vizquel then pinch hit for Gordon Beckham and drew a walk, which brought the tying run to the plate.  Juan Pierre grounded to first base to put runners on 2nd and 3rd for Brent Lillibridge.  Only Lillibridge grew a foot and gained 100 lbs since his last at bat.  After I blinked a few more times I realized Ozzie put up Adam Dunn for a guy that has more home runs in way less at bats, homered earlier in the game and who owns a career dinger off of Nathan.  Dunn worked the count to 3-1, before going down on strikes for the 2nd out of the inning.  Konerko came up and dumped a single to right, which scored De Aza and Vizquel to make it 7-6.  Zach Stewart pinch ran for Paulie and represented the tying run with our super dangerous cleanup hitter coming up to the plate.  The only cleanup hitter in baseball with a terrifying .572 OPS, Rios.  You would think after being so distraught over getting rung up earlier in the game he would swing, but instead he stood there with the bat on his shoulder as the ump called strike three again.  This time he walked off, went into the dugout and down the runway without incident, but the game was over.  

* Jake Peavy blamed a bunch of things for his poor outing.  The wind, his health, his relief appearance 3 months ago, his momma and daddy issues.  Seriously dude, just say "I didn't have it".  That would suffice. 

* Viciedo killed 2 balls.  One, his hit to center and the other, a line out to the warning track.  There was a bit more electricity in the stadium when he stepped up to the plate.  

* The 300 level is very nice.  I hadn't been up there in a few years and was very impressed. 

* The Sox have Thursday off, and travel up to Detroit on Friday for a must win series against the Tigers.  John Danks will face Justin Verlander at 6:05. 

WP: Scott Diamond (1-2)

LP: Jake Peavy (6-7)

S: Joe Nathan (12)

HR: Kubel (12), Hughes (7), Repko (2), Lillibridge (13)

Record: 68-66 | G.B. 6 | Box