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Fields, Thome power White Sox over Twins

Sep 22, 2007 - 3:55 AM By Anthony Maggio PA Sportsticker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Josh Fields hit a pair of solo home runs and Jim Thome added a three-run blast to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday.

Thome's fifth-inning shot was his fourth home run in the last five games and erased a 3-2 deficit, propelling Chicago to its fifth victory over the Twins in their last six meetings. Fields also has four homers in his last five contests.

Chicago starter Mark Buehrle (10-9) ended an 0-3 stretch in his previous seven starts with his first win since August 3, out performing Sox-killer Johan Santana and snapping Minnesota's three-game winning streak.

"I think Santana's career is over now, I guarantee you," Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen joked. "I think he's hurt."

Santana (15-13) struck out 11 Chicago hitters, marking the seventh time this season and 39th in his career he's reached double-digits, but otherwise failed to shut down the White Sox. He allowed six runs on eight hits with one walk to ultimately lose for fourth time in his last five starts.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner had gone 3-0 in three previous starts against the White Sox this season with a 2.05 ERA and was 13-5 with a 3.03 ERA in 27 career games against Chicago.

"It took us about five years to get a game like this against him," Guillen said. "The reason Johan has a few Cy Youngs is because of the White Sox, there's no doubt about it."

Santana had not lost four games in five or fewer starts since 2004 when he lost four straight contests from May 18 through June 3. He has a 5.05 ERA in his last five outings.

"There are guys on that other side that are pretty strong," Santana said. "I was doing my job and throwing my fastballs in and out of the plate and throwing my changeup. They put on a couple good swings and the ball went over the fence and they took advantage."

"Johan got the ball up a little too much," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "When he gets the ball up it will go just as far with him throwing as anybody else."

Chicago jumped on Santana immediately, with Fields blasting his 21st home run of the season two batters in the first to give the White Sox a 1-0 lead.

But the Twins got to Buehrle in the third frame, starting with Jason Bartlett's leadoff walk. Bartlett scored two batters later on Joe Mauer's RBI single, followed by Torii Hunter's double before Justin Morneau lofted a sacrifice fly. Michael Cuddyer doubled home Hunter to capped the three-run inning.

Thome doubled to lead off the fourth and scored two batters later on Jermaine Dye's RBI double to cut the lead to 3-2.

Santana got the first two outs harmlessly in the fifth, but gave up a single to Jerry Owens and walked Fields, which brought a trip to the mound from pitching coach Rick Anderson. Unless Anderson told Santana to throw a fastball in Thome's wheelhouse, Santana didn't follow instructions.

Thome hit a no-doubter on an 0-1 count to give Chicago a lead it wouldn't relinquish, 5-3.

"We were fortunate to get some runs off a very good pitcher, usually he pitches very well against us," Thome said. "With him, he's so dominating that you just try to have some good at-bats. Fortunately we got some pitches in the zone to hit and capitalized on it."

Nick Punto brought the Twins within one with an RBI triple in the sixth to score Lew Ford, but Fields hit his second homer of the game in the top of the seventh to regain a two-run cushion. Thome nearly hit his second home run of the game in the next at bat, but Ford timed his leap at the wall in left field perfectly to rob him.

Fields is hitting .533 in his last four games with six RBI and nine runs scored. He was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against Santana previously, but was able to stay hot this time around.

"Against that guy you just kind of close your eyes and swing," Fields said. "Every once in a while someone deserves to get him, as much as he dominates everyone. Fortunately I got to get him."

Buehrle allowed four runs on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts in six innings, improving to 2-0 in two starts against the Twins this season after throwing eight shutout innings in his last outing against them on July 7.

Chicago relievers Mike Myers and Mike MacDougal bridged the gap to closer Bobby Jenks, who logged the ninth for his 39th save in 45 chances.

Mauer had three hits with an RBI and run scored for Minnesota, which has lost five straight games and 11 of its last 14 against division opponents.