• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Twins continue charge toward AL Central title

Sep 29, 2006 - 1:23 PM Chi White Sox (88-71) at Minnesota (95-64) 8:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - After weeks of hovering, the Minnesota Twins finally moved into a tie for first place in the American League Central Division on Thursday. They try to at least maintain their position in Friday's opener of a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox.

Joe Mauer connected for the game-tying homer with two out in the ninth inning, and Jason Bartlett delivered the game-winning single in the 10th as the Twins rallied for a 2-1 victory against Kansas City here Thursday. Minnesota became the first team in major league history to reach the top of the division standings for the first time in a season as late as its 159th game.

A major league-best 53-25 at home, the Twins give the ball to rookie Boof Bonser (7-5, 4.15 ERA). Minnesota has won all five games this month started by Bonser, who has gone 4-0 with a 2.20 ERA in that span to earn starting duty in Game Two of the AL Division Series.

In his only previous start against the White Sox, Bonser allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings of an eventual 7-3 loss on August 18. Freddy Garcia (16-9, 4.65) was the losing pitcher in that game, surrendering five runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Beginning with that outing against Minnesota, Garcia allowed five earned runs in four consecutive starts. Garcia has given up a total of six earned runs in four starts since, going 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA while receiving an average of nearly nine runs of support.

The White Sox have been much less generous with the rest of the rotation, scoring three runs or fewer 12 times since September 3. Chicago has a record of 10-15 this month, falling to 31-40 since the All-Star break.