Twins 2 - 4 White Sox
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White Sox try to bounce back against woeful Twins

Sep 3, 2012 - 2:36 PM

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(Sports Network) - Now is not the time for the Chicago White Sox to start slumping.

In the hunt for a division title, the struggling White Sox look to stop a four-game losing streak when they begin a three-game series versus the lowly Minnesota Twins on Monday from U.S. Cellular Field.

The White Sox were swept in three games at Detroit over the weekend and now share the AL Central lead with the Tigers. In Sunday night's 4-2 loss at Comerica Park, Chris Sale had a rough outing and was reached for all four runs in six innings.

"Tomorrow is a new day," White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "One thing we've been doing all year is just look at the next day and hopefully tomorrow will be the day that we turn it back around and start winning some games."

Alejandro De Aza homered for Chicago, which is two games off the Wild Card chase and lost three of four at Baltimore before being swept in Detroit. De Aza was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to Sunday's game due to bruised left ribs.

Chicago will roll the dice with Hector Santiago on Monday, as he will make the first start of his career. Santiago is 2-1 with a 3.91 earned run average in 36 relief appearances this season and has faced Minnesota three times in a reserve role in 2012, spanning five innings. The southpaw threw a scoreless inning of relief at Baltimore on Thursday.

It would be nice for Santiago if slugger Adam Dunn is in the lineup tonight. Dunn has been bothered by a right oblique injury the past few days. The White Sox are opening a 10-game homestand versus Minnesota, Kansas City and Detroit. Meanwhile, the Twins had won two straight and three of four games before losing, 6-4, in Sunday's series finale with the Royals.

Chris Parmelee homered, Alexi Casilla had two RBI and Joe Mauer finished with three hits for Minnesota, which is playing out the string and is hoping to spoil Chicago's hopes of a division title.

Minnesota's Esmerling Vasquez got the loss in his first career start and was charged with five runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings.

"Vasquez was good for his first outing out there," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He was misfiring a little bit early, but he settled in pretty decent."

Gardenhire will have Samuel Deduno on the mound Monday and he is 5-2 with a 3.72 ERA in 10 starts. Deduno ended a personal two-game slide in a 10-0 win over Seattle on Wednesday and delivered nine Ks over seven shutout innings. The righty has never faced the White Sox and is 2-2 in six road starts.

Chicago is 9-3 against the Twins this season after splitting 18 matchups a year ago.






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