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Vazquez, bullpen help White Sox blank Twins

Apr 8, 2007 - 5:48 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Facing Javier Vazquez and the bullpen of the Chicago White Sox was a chilling experience for the Minnesota Twins.

Vazquez and four relievers combined on a three-hitter and the White Sox overcame freezing conditions for a 3-0 victory over the Twins, who suffered their first loss of the season.

Juan Uribe homered for the White Sox, who put together just enough offense for their second straight win.

"We have to play in this weather, so we have to forget about the cold weather and mentally prepare for it," said Vazquez, a native of Puerto Rico. "I'm out here for a reason to try and win a world championship. So every win is important."

Friday night's game was postponed due to extremely cold conditions and it was not much better several hours later. Game-time temperature was 31 degrees, with the wind at 15 miles per hour.

"That was about as bad as I've been in," Chicago first baseman Paul Konerko said. "Today, as far as the cold, was about as bad as I've ever been in. You've just got to get the win on days like this. If you don't, you just come up empty and just stand around in the cold all day."

The conditions didn't seem to bother Vazquez, who was making his first start of the season. The righthander was dealt four of his 12 losses in 2006 by the Twins but handcuffed them Saturday, allowing one hit and four walks with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

"You always want to start off on the right foot," Vazquez said. "It's good to go out there and have a good game on your first time out of the year."

"He was great," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "That's what we expect of Javy everytime. He moved the ball around, used all his pitches. He was aggressive, and he didn't back down. He gave us a tremendous lift today."

Vazquez left with a 1-0 lead that was nursed by 6-10 lefthander Andy Sisco, who retired two batters, and Mike MacDougal and Matt Thornton, who got one apiece.

The White Sox scored twice off Dennys Reyes in the eighth to provide some breathing room for closer Bobby Jenks, who allowed a hit but struck out two for his first save of the season.

Minnesota's only hits were singles by Michael Cuddyer in the second and ninth innings and an infield hit by Luis Castillo off MacDougal in the eighth. The Twins were denied their first 5-0 start since 1987, when they won the World Series.

"Vazquez threw well today," Cuddyer said. "He continued going after us, he continued being aggressive, he continued getting those strikes over. He was throwing a great two-seamer that was coming right back over the outside of the plate."

Vazquez outdueled Carlos Silva (0-1), who also is coming off a disappointing 2006 season but had to be encouraged by his first start. The righthander gave up one run, five hits and a walk in five innings, striking out one.

Silva had an 8.10 ERA in three starts here last year and did not begin well. He gave up a one-out single to Darin Erstad and walked Jim Thome before Konerko stroked an RBI single up the middle.

"Silva threw the ball good, got through the first inning with a lot of pitches, but settled in after that," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "His ball was sinking good, (he) got ground balls, got double plays and gave us a chance."

After the first, Silva matched zeroes with Vazquez, who had some control issues. In addition to his walks, he hit a batter but never got into any trouble.

Uribe greeted Reyes with a 378-foot blast over the left field wall to open the eighth. Reyes bobbled Scott Podsednik's bunt for a generous single and - after Erstad sacrificed - threw a pickoff attempt into center field, allowing Podsednik to scoot home.

"It wasn't our day today," Gardenhire said. "We battled pretty well, we were trying, but it didn't work out for us."