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Carroll's sac fly boosts Twins over White Sox

Jul 31, 2012 - 5:49 AM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Jamey Carroll's sacrifice fly in the ninth inning lifted the Minnesota Twins to a 7-6 win over the Chicago White Sox in the opener of a three-game series.

With Brett Myers (0-1) on the mound, Danny Valencia led off the inning with a single and Brian Dozier followed with a sac bunt. On the play, Dozier's bunt went down the first base line and catcher A.J. Pierzynski fielded it, but his quick throw to first went high and Minnesota wound up with runners on second and third with no outs.

Carroll followed with a fly ball to right that was fielded cleanly, but Alexi Casilla, who came on to run for Valencia, easily beat the throw home for the win.

Ryan Doumit and Valencia each drove in two runs for the Twins, who have won four straight. Cole De Vries pitched five innings and gave up five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts while Glen Perkins (2-1) got the win pitching a scoreless ninth.

"To be able to rally for this late win is big for us," said Carroll. "We have some good guys in this clubhouse and we're really starting to feel good together now."

Pierzynski, who had missed the previous five games due to a mild oblique strain in his right side, hit a three-run home run while Alejandro De Aza was 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored for the White Sox, who have dropped their past two after winning five straight. Jose Quintana was charged with six runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits over seven innings.

"He got better in the game as it went on," said Pierzynski about Quintana. "He was missing his spots early and they hit him, but he settled down after that and gave us seven solid innings."

Chicago jumped all over De Vries in the first inning. De Aza singled to start the game and later stole second. He scored on a Paul Konerko single and Alex Rios followed with a walk. Pierzynski then hit his 17th homer of the season for a 4-0 lead.

Minnesota, though, did the same in the bottom of the inning. Four straight hits to start the frame were capped on RBI singles from Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham. Doumit later brought home another with a fielder's choice and Valenica's RBI single tied the game.

RBI single's from Doumit and Valencia in the third gave the Twins a 6-4 advantage, but De Aza made it a one-run game in the fourth as his single scored Alexei Ramirez. De Aza tied the game in the eighth when he again singled home Ramirez.

Game Notes

Minnesota right fielder Ben Revere went 1-for-4 to extend his hit streak to 13 games...Despite the loss, Chicago has won seven of 10 from Minnesota this season...The White Sox left nine on base and went 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position.