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Mauer plays 1B, has 2 RBI in Twins win

Jul 8, 2011 - 3:43 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Judging from Joe Mauer's debut at first base, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire may give the one-time AL MVP another crack at playing the position again in the near future.

Mauer had three hits and drove in two runs, but it was his solid fielding at first that drew attention in Minnesota's 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox to start a four-game series.

Mauer had not played any other fielding position but catcher at the major league level during his career. Gardenhire made the move to put the 2009 American League MVP at first because Drew Butera was behind the plate as the personal catcher for Carl Pavano.

"He's got good hands and he makes it look easier than it really is," Gardenhire said of Mauer's play at first base. "That's because he's pretty solid. That was his first shot at it, so there will be times when it may be a little tougher on him. I don't know how because he made a lot of tough plays over there. He's an athlete, he's gifted and he handled himself very well over there tonight."

Ben Revere had three hits and knocked in a pair of runs for the Twins, who won for the fourth time in five games. They are unbeaten in five contests against the White Sox this season and have captured eight in a row over their AL Central rival.

Pavano (6-6) allowed six hits and two runs over seven innings to move to 8-3 lifetime against the White Sox.

White Sox starter Philip Humber (8-5) surrendered 11 hits and six runs over 3 2/3 innings

Mark Teahen homered in defeat, Chicago's third in a row.

The bright spot for the White Sox was the relief effort of Hector Santiago. In just his second big league appearance, the left-hander allowed one hit over 4 1/3 scoreless frames.

"He has a good chance to be a good one," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "This kid's got some heart, he's not afraid. The number one thing he has so far, he throws strikes. When you throw strikes you always have a chance in the big leagues."

Revere legged out an infield hit to start the game, stole second, went to third on a flyout and scored on Mauer's line drive single up the middle.

Mauer made a nice grab on a sharply-hit ground ball from Adam Dunn to end the bottom of the first, and the Twins added two runs in the next inning. Danny Valencia doubled to lead off, and Tsuyoshi Nishioka hit an RBI single up the middle with one out. Nishioka stole second and scored on Revere's two-out base hit to center.

Three straight singles - from Nishioka, Butera and Revere manufactured a run in the fourth. Two batters later, Mauer's single to right made it 5-0. The White Sox were sloppy on the play, as first baseman Paul Konerko's flip to first was off the mark trying to catch Mauer off the base. That allowed Revere to come home.

Teahen homered to left with Alexei Ramirez on base in the fifth, but aside from getting a runner at third later in the inning, the White Sox didn't put up a threat the rest of the night.

Mauer also showed some nice stretching at first base, making a lunge to grab a throw from Nishioka on a ball hit in the hole by Konerko to end the fifth.

Game Notes

Konerko is going to the All-Star Game by virtue of winning the Final Vote. Konerko tallied 8.4 million votes and made the AL All-Star team for the fifth time...Glen Perkins threw the seventh inning, his eighth consecutive scoreless appearance...The Twins are 27-6 in the last 33 meetings against the White Sox...Chicago is mired in a 4-for-45 slump with runners in scoring position in its last five games.