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Quentin homers twice, Buehrle strong as ChiSox upend Twins

Aug 6, 2011 - 3:56 AM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Carlos Quentin went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and Mark Buehrle pitched eight strong innings to power the Chicago White Sox past the Minnesota Twins, 5-3 in the opener of a three-game series.

Brent Morel collected two hits for the White Sox, who snapped their six-game losing streak and beat Minnesota for just the second time in nine games this season.

Buehrle (9-5) gave up three runs -- none earned -- on four hits while fanning three to stretch his unbeaten streak to eight starts. Chris Sale worked around a Jason Kubel double in the ninth to seal the win and pick up his third save.

Buehrle won for the 26th time in his career against the Twins.

"It just means I've been able to stay healthy and pitch well," Buehrle said of his win total against the division rival. "We haven't had too much success on the road against these guys, so I was lucky to get a win today."

Kubel belted a two-run homer for the Twins, who have lost five of their last six games.

Nick Blackburn (7-9) went 5 1/3 innings in defeat, giving up four runs on seven hits while walking six and striking out one.

In the fifth, the White Sox took the lead for good on Quentin's 23rd homer of the season to make it a 4-3 game. Adam Dunn walked with one out, leading to Quentin's blast to left field on a first offering from Blackburn.

Chicago threatened to expand its lead in the sixth, loading the bases with one out. Phil Dumatrait retired Dunn on a pop fly in foul territory to first base. Alex Burnett then got Quentin to fly out to center.

The White Sox extended their lead in the eighth. Alexei Ramirez and Paul Konerko hit back-to-back one-out singles. With two down, Quentin was plunked by Twins reliever Matt Capps. Glen Perkins entered the game from the Twins' bullpen and unleashed a wild pitch, which allowed Ramirez to score, giving Chicago a two-run edge.

After Kubel's two-out double in the ninth, Sale fanned Danny Valencia.

Earlier, Chicago opened the scoring in its first at-bat, loading the bases with one out on a Juan Pierre single and walks to Konerko and Dunn. Pierre crossed the plate on a throwing error by shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka. Blackburn battled back to limit the damage by getting A.J. Pierzynski to pop out and Gordon Beckham to ground weakly to third.

In the bottom of the first, the Twins took the lead, plating three runs. Ben Revere led off by reaching on an error by Dunn and moved to second on a Matt Tolbert groundout. Joe Mauer then knocked in Tolbert with a single. After a Michael Cuddyer fly out, Kubel belted his eighth homer of the season.

"He's quick with his tempo," Revere said of facing Buehrle. "He's just one of those guys where we couldn't pick him up. Some days you get him, some days you don't."

Morel reached on a Valencia throwing error and Pierre walked to give the White Sox runners on first and second with one out in the second. Chicago was unable to cash in, however, as Ramirez grounded out and Konerko popped out to shortstop.

The White Sox made it a one-run game in the third at 3-2 on Quentin's first homer of the night.

Game Notes

Minnesota is 26-26 at home this season...It was Quentin's 13th career two-home run game...Buehrle has allowed three runs or less in 17 straight starts...Blackburn lost for the first time in six home decisions to the White Sox...The White Sox will promote pitcher Zach Stewart from Triple-A Charlotte to start Saturday's game. Jake Peavy will be moved to Sunday. Stewart was acquired in a trade from Toronto.