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White Sox seek to gain more ground on Twins

Aug 30, 2011 - 3:17 PM (Sports Network) - The Chicago White Sox try to gain even more ground in the American League Central tonight when they continue a three-game set with the Minnesota Twins at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chicago won for the fourth straight time in Monday's opener, as Tyler Flowers knocked in two runs to support 7 2/3 scoreless innings from Mark Buehrle in the White Sox's 3-0 win.

Buehrle (11-6) gave up just four hits -- all singles -- and struck out four to win for the fifth time in his last six decisions.

Sergio Santos tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to record his 27th save of the season.

Dayan Viciedo went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the White Sox, who have won six of eight and now sit just five games behind the AL Central-leading Tigers.

"One game at a time," said Buehrle. "We can't get too far ahead. We've got a couple more games with Detroit and they're not going away and I think they know we're not going to."

Kevin Slowey (0-3) lasted seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits to suffer the loss.

"Slowey was good," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "He was working fast, he got us off the field. He did everything Buehrle did except he gave up a couple of runs."

The Twins, who have dropped eight of their last nine games, were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

Heading to the hill for Minnesota tonight will be right-hander Anthony Swarzak, who is 3-4 with a 3.62 ERA and is coming off a horrible outing his last time out. Swarzak was defeated by Baltimore on Thursday, as the Orioles reached him for five runs and eight hits in just 3 1/3 innings.

Swarzak beat the White Sox back on July 10, allowing a run and four hits in six innings in his only other meeting against them,

Chicago will rely on righty Zach Stewart, whose lone major league win came against the Twins on August 6. Stewart gave up one run in 6 1/3 innings that day, but was pounded seven runs in six frames by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in his last start on Wednesday. He is 1-3 on the year with a 4.76 ERA.

"Up and down," said Stewart, when asked to describe his effort against the Angels. "I felt like a couple times, from hitter to hitter, I was good and then bad. It was just one of those nights where I wasn't fully getting the feel the whole time. I felt like my stuff was good. If I hit some of my spots in those situations, it turns out a little better."

Despite Monday's loss Minnesota has been a thorn in Chicago's side this season, taking seven of the 12 matchups, including five of the seven played in Chicago.