Final
White Sox edge Twins behind Garcia
Sep 30, 2006 - 3:06 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Their reign is all but over, but the Chicago White Sox are not ready to pass the torch to the Minnesota Twins.Freddy Garcia pitched 7 1/3 strong innings as the defending world champion White Sox prevented the Twins from taking over the lead in the American League Central Division with a 4-3 victory.
Minnesota (95-65) remained tied with Detroit (95-65) for first place in the AL Central. But the Twins are at a disadvantage as the Tigers hold the season-series tiebreaker and finish the regular season against the Kansas City Royals, baseball's worst team.
"You've got three games left and you lose a game, yeah, it's a missed opportunity," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said.
The Twins did get a huge break when the Royals rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the Tigers, 9-7, in 11 innings.
In winning his fourth consecutive start, Garcia (17-9) was superb in outdueling rookie righthander Boof Bonser, who suffered his first loss in five decisions in September. Garcia allowed one run and five hits, striking out three without a walk.
"I like to finish strong," Garcia said. "It's different than last year. I pitched pretty good in September this year. I've thrown the ball real good. Hit my spots and try to enjoy."
The Twins didn't go down quietly, however.
A night after Joe Mauer homered with two outs in the ninth inning of a game the Twins won in extra innings, Nick Punto singled and Luis Rodriguez walked to open the ninth off White Sox closer Bobby Jenks.
That brought Mauer to the plate, but the AL's leading hitter struck out on a check swing. Michael Cuddyer followed with a two-run double down the left field line to cut the deficit to 4-3.
After Justin Morneau struck out on three pitches, Torii Hunter hit an infield single and Lew Ford walked to load the bases. But the burly Jenks struck out Phil Nevin to end the game and secure his 41st save.
"Did you see that?" White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Bounce one over the third baseman's head, Hunter hits a two-chopper, that's the way they play. They are a scrappy little team. It's not easy to go out there and perform (against them).
"But we've got to keep playing. I don't want to be embarrassed and I'm sure no one on my team wants to be embarrassed on the field. We have two games to go, but we have to play like there is a hundred games to go."
Bonser (7-6) pitched fairly well, allowing three runs and seven hits in five frames. He struck out three and walked two.
"I had a couple pitches I hung that they hit, but that's what happens," said Bonser, the likely starter for Game Two of the AL Division Series.
"The kid gave a super effort, he was fantastic," Gardenhire said. "We had a chance at the end. That's all you can ask for, is to give them everything you have, but we just couldn't come up with one more big hit. It's a little frustrating for everybody."
Garcia was overpowering at the outset. The 30-year-old Venezuelan was backed by solo home runs from Jermaine Dye and Alex Cintron and an RBI single by Jim Thome for a 3-0 lead through five innings.
The Twins finally broke through against Garcia in the seventh, when Rodriguez led off with a double and scored on Cuddyer's one-out single to cut the deficit to 3-1.
A.J. Pierzynski singled in an insurance run for the White Sox in the ninth, and it proved to be necessary as the Twins staged the late rally against Jenks.
No one has shouted yet.
Be the first!
Be the first!
Related News
- Greatest Minnesota Twins: The Twinkie Town Definitive List (Round 9) Dec 26
- 2024 South Side Sox Prospect Vote: Round 14 Dec 25
- Today in White Sox History: December 25 Dec 25
- The season of perpetual hope (Pt. 3 of 3): Jim Eisenreich Dec 24
- Soxivus Week 4 companion: Soxivus Miracles Dec 24
- Sox Populi Podcast 168/Soxivus Celebration Week 4 — Soxivus Miracles Dec 24
- Rival Roundup, Vol. 47: Home for the Holidays Dec 23
- 2024 South Side Sox Prospect Vote: Round 13 Dec 21
- Soxivus Week 3 companion: Feats of Strength Dec 20
- Sox Populi Podcast 167/Soxivus Celebration Week 3 — Feats of Strength Dec 20
- 2024 South Side Sox Prospect Vote: Round 12 Dec 19
- Today in White Sox History: December 19 Dec 19