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Cuddyer, Blackburn help Twins down ChiSox

Jun 16, 2011 - 8:36 PM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Michael Cuddyer accounted for the only run with a home run in the second inning, as the Twins earned a 1-0 win over the White Sox to sweep the rain-shortened two-game set at Target Field.

Cuddyer finished 2-for-4 while Jason Repko and Tsuyoshi Nishioka had the other two hits for Minnesota, which has won four in a row and 11 of its last 13 overall.

Nishioka returned to the lineup after missing the last 59 games with a fractured left fibula

Nick Blackburn (6-4) was sensational, working eight shutout innings, yielding seven hits and one walk with one strikeout. The right-hander has won five straight decisions. Matt Capps threw a scoreless ninth to record his ninth save of the season.

"We were pretty effective today, just kept those guys off balance," Blackburn said.

Paul Konerko and A.J. Pierzynski each had two hits for the White Sox, who have dropped three of their last five. Starter Mark Buehrle (6-5) took the hard- luck loss for allowing one run on three hits and two walks. The lefty struck out three.

"He was great. He made one mistake and Cuddyer hit it out of the park," Pierzynski said about Buehrle's outing. "He changed speeds really well, made good pitches and it's a shame he lost."

Chicago stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the second and the Twins put up the only run in the home half when Cuddyer led off with a homer over the left-center field fence.

Carlos Quentin was hit by a pitch leading off the fourth before Blackburn got Konerko to bounce into a tailor made 6-4-3 double play.

The White Sox had another threat turned aside in the sixth when Alex Rios flied out to center with runners on the corners and two outs.

Pierzynski left two more on base in the eighth and Capps took over for the ninth. Adam Dunn reached with a one-out single, but the right-hander struck out Gordon Beckham, then pinch-hitter Omar Vizquel to end the game.

Game Notes

The Twins have won 24 of their last 30 at home over the White Sox...Blackburn improved to 8-5 lifetime against the White Sox, while Buehrle fell to 25-19 in his 48 career games against Minnesota.