Twins 4 - 3 White Sox
Final
  for this game

White Sox take aim at sweep of Twins

Sep 18, 2013 - 2:30 PM (Sports Network) - Southpaw John Danks can pitch the last-place Chicago White Sox to a rare series sweep on Wednesday afternoon when they host the Minnesota Twins in the finale of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.

The 28-year-old has faced the Twins 23 times in his career and won six of 16 decisions while allowing 156 hits and 88 runs in 140 2/3 innings - allowing an opposition batting average of .286.

The most recent meeting came Aug. 9 in Chicago, where he was touched for four hits and three runs in six innings of a game the White Sox ultimately lost, 7-5.

Danks is 2-4 in six starts since, including a 14-3 blowout loss to Cleveland on Sept. 12, in which he was walloped for seven runs on nine hits while retiring just 12 batters.

In 10 home starts this season, he is 3-5 with a 4.52 ERA in 65 2/3 innings.

Danks faces right-hander Scott Diamond, who makes his second start since a month-long demotion to the minor leagues.

The 27-year-old Canadian was 5-10 with a 5.52 ERA after a 7-2 loss to Kansas City on Aug. 1, and was subsequently sent to Triple-A Rochester, where he was 4-0 in six starts with a 2.41 ERA.

In one start since his return to the majors, Diamond took an 8-2 loss to Oakland after allowing five runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings.

He last faced the White Sox on June 20 and was an 8-4 winner, bumping his career record against Chicago to 4-4 in eight meetings.

On Tuesday, Dayan Viciedo finished 3-for-5 and drove in two runs as Chicago edged Minnesota, 4-3.

Alejandro De Aza added two hits and scored twice, while Marcus Semien and Alexei Ramirez knocked in a run apiece for the White Sox, who entered the series after losing six in a row.

Jose Quintana (8-6) allowed eight hits and one run, fanning five with just two walks over six innings.

Trevor Plouffe collected two hits and two RBI for the Twins, who have dropped six of seven. Brian Dozier contributed three hits and two runs scored in defeat.

Mike Pelfrey (5-13) struck out six, but was charged with nine hits and three runs over 4 1/3 frames.

Minnesota won 10 of the first 16 games in 2013 with the White Sox, a year after Chicago won 14 of 18 in the season series.






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