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White Sox-Twins Preview

May 10, 2010 - 6:53 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Chicago (13-19) at Minnesota (21-11), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Perhaps no team dreaded its visits to the Metrodome over the last two years more than the Chicago White Sox. The Minnesota Twins are hoping Target Field proves to be just as vexing for their AL Central rivals when the clubs play a two-game set there beginning Tuesday night.

The White Sox (13-19) struggled against the Twins (21-11) on the road the last two years, going 3-15 at the Metrodome. Last year, Chicago went 2-7 in Minneapolis, with its pitching staff posting a 5.18 ERA.

While the club has moved outdoors, Minnesota has been just as effective hitting in its new ballpark, averaging 5.2 runs while going 11-5 there en route to the best record in the AL Central. The Twins split a four-game home series with Baltimore over the weekend, winning the last two by a combined 12-1.

Nick Blackburn and two relievers combined to hold the Orioles to six hits in a 6-0 win Sunday while Denard Span drove in three runs and recorded his third three-hit game this month.

Joe Mauer returned to the starting lineup for the first time since missing eight games with a deeply bruised left heel. He went 1 for 3 as the designated hitter after striking out as pinch-hitter Saturday.

Manager Ron Gardenhire believes Mauer will resume his duties behind the plate Tuesday. The catcher went 3 for 6 with two doubles, one RBI and three walks as the Twins took two of three against the White Sox at Chicago last month.

"I think (Mauer) makes their whole club better," Orioles manager Dave Trembley told the Twins' official website. "His presence in the middle of the lineup, they just kind of feed off that."

The White Sox's visit to Minneapolis comes after the team lost three of four to the Blue Jays over the weekend, dropping the finale 9-7 on Sunday after closer Bobby Jenks gave up a three-run homer in the ninth.

Jenks, who converted all five of his previous save opportunities, has a 6.75 ERA and has given up 19 hits in 12 innings, prompting manager Ozzie Guillen to say he may explore another option for save situations.

"Obviously, he is not throwing the ball well, but the good thing is we have options out there and we will see what happens in the next couple of days," Guillen said.

Chicago, which is 4-9 on the road, is eight games behind division-leading Minnesota.

The White Sox will try to get things going against Kevin Slowey (4-2, 3.93 ERA), who has won his last two starts. He gave up three runs and seven hits, including three home runs, in a 5-4 win over Detroit on Wednesday. The right-hander lasted 5 2-3 innings, the fifth time in six starts he's failed to get out of the sixth.

Slowey, who hasn't faced the White Sox since 2008, is 2-2 with a 5.04 ERA in his career against them.

Chicago will hand the ball to Freddy Garcia (1-2, 5.28), who gave up two runs and a season-high 10 hits over six innings of a 9-2 win over the Royals on Wednesday.

The right-hander is 4-4 with a 5.40 ERA against the Twins on the road. He gave up two runs, three hits and walked five in a 2-1 home loss to the Twins on April 10.

Mauer is 8 for 23 (.348) with a home run, two doubles and four walks in his career against Garcia.