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White Sox-Twins Preview

Jul 14, 2010 - 7:15 PM By SAMANTHA PANITCH STATS Writer

Chicago (49-38) at Minnesota (46-42), 8:10 p.m. EDT

There has already been quite a bit of shuffling atop of the AL Central this season, with the Chicago White Sox surging past the Minnesota Twins in the weeks just before the All-Star break.

The clubs will get right back to the division race Thursday night, when they meet at Target Field for the opener of a four-game series.

Chicago (49-38) finished off the first half with a sweep of Kansas City, giving it a 25-5 record since it trailed Minnesota by 9 1/2 games June 8.

The White Sox won their eighth straight Sunday, hitting five home runs in a 15-5 victory. Chicago moved a half-game ahead of Detroit and 3 1/2 up on the Twins.

"I think it is a shock just because the way the team was playing, how many games we were out of first place. It's a shock how quick we did it," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I know we are going to compete this year and hopefully we stay the same way we are right now. We put ourselves in a pretty nice spot and see what happens the rest of the summer."

The White Sox's run has been due in large part to the starting rotation getting on track, with Chicago posting 27 quality starts in the past 31 games.

"Pitching has enabled us to turn into a clutch-hitting team by putting zeros up," hitting coach Greg Walker told the team's official website. "If we do fail, they just keep putting zeros up and, sooner or later, we get it done."

John Danks (8-7, 3.29 ERA), who allowed three runs or fewer in five of his last six starts, will look to build on his best outing of the season. He threw a two-hitter for his second career complete game in a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels last Thursday.

The left-hander will face a Twins team that stumbled into the All-Star break, losing five of seven to fall into third place.

"We have to put a better effort forth and right our ship," manager Ron Gardenhire said after his team lost two of three in Detroit last weekend. "That's what we talked about. The effort has to be better."

The Twins (46-42) have gone 15-22 since June 1.

Minnesota, however, is not in unfamiliar territory. The Twins have captured five division crowns in the last eight years and were in first place at the All-Star break during only one of those title-winning seasons.

"We've been in this situation before, and the key is cheering for each other and staying positive," Gardenhire said.

Kevin Slowey (8-5, 4.64) will try and help the Twins get back on track. The right-hander struggled in his last outing, giving up five runs and 10 hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 6-5 loss to Toronto on July 7. He did not get a decision.

Slowey has had his problems against Chicago, going 2-3 with a 5.85 ERA in six starts. He lasted 4 2-3 innings and allowed five runs in a 5-2 home loss to the White Sox on May 11.