White Sox 3, Twins 2; Peavy, Sox escape with victory

The White Sox tried their best to give the Twins the game today, but fortunately the Twins didn't want it. Jake Peavy pitched 8 strong innings to pick up his 9th win and Addison Reed closed the door for his 18th save as the Sox moved to 57-47. But it didn't come easy. The White Sox defense has been struggling lately and today was no different.

With the White Sox leading 1-0 on an Adam Dunn sac fly in the first, Ben Revere hit a one out double. Peavy tried to pick him off at second and threw wildly into center field. Revere would end up scoring on a groundout to tie the game.

Danny Valencia gave the Twins a 2-1 lead when he hit a hanger into the left field seats. The Sox were able to tie it in the 5th. Alex Rios led off with a single. After an Alexei Ramirez strike out, Dayan Viciedo singled to right to put runners on the corners. Tyler Flowers hit a chopper up the middle that shortstop D.J. Dozier knocked down and flipped to second for one out, but Flowers beat the throw to first as Rios crossed the plate.

The score held there until the top of the 8th. Flowers hit a rocket up the middle that Scott Diamond got a glove on, but the ball deflected away from him giving Tyler his 2nd hit of the day. After two poor bunt attempts by Hudson, Diamond buried a slider in the dirt that bounced away from Joe Mauer to move Flowers to second. Hudson then hit a swinging bunt to third, which allowed Flowers to get into third base. Alejandro De Aza then hit a rocket up the box that struck Diamond on the thigh. Flowers broke for home and beat the throw to give the Sox the 3-2 lead.

In the bottom of the 8th though, the ugly defense showed up again. With two outs, Denard Span singled. Revere hit a chopper to Kevin Youkilis, but Youk booted it allowing Span into third. With Mauer coming up and Leyson Septimo warming in the bullpen, Ventura left Peavy in and the move paid off as Mauer popped to short to end the threat.

Reed came on in the 9th and got the first two outs without an issue. Ryan Doumit then hit a sinking line drive to right. Rios charged and dove but came up empty and the ball got by him allowing Doumit into 2nd. After a walk to Valencia and a double steal by pinch runners Darin Mastroianni and Alexi Casilla, Dozier came up with the winning run in scoring position. Just like Peavy in the 8th though, Reed got him to pop up weakly to center field, to give the Sox the series win.

* The Twins were running all over the Sox today on the bases as they were successful in 4 of 5 tries. Flowers got Mauer trying to steal on the back end of a strike him out, throw him out DP.

* Alejandro De Aza was 3-4 with a run and an RBI and hit the ball hard all day.

* The Sox were 1-8 with runners in scoring position and hit into two double plays (Hudson and Dunn).

* The Sox return home on Friday for a lengthy home stand. Philip Humber will face Zack Greinke and the Angels.

* Brent Morel was recalled from his rehab assignment and optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.

Record: 57-47|Box