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Bonser, Twins stymie White Sox

Apr 30, 2008 - 4:17 AM By Anthony Maggio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Boof Bonser generally has his curveball biting when he leaves spring training. Better late than never.

The Minnesota Twins righthander struck out a season-high eight batters thanks to his trusty breaking pitch and well-placed fastballs to give the Minnesota Twins a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday in the first contest of a five-game homestand.

Bonser (2-4), who entered the contest with the worst run support in the American League at 1.86 per game, got a two-run home run from Jason Kubel as part of a three-run fourth inning and made the lead hold up.

"That's probably the first time since the season started that I had (the curveball working well)," Bonser said. "Last year it was going good, but my first four or five games I did not have it like I did tonight."

Gavin Floyd (2-1) was tagged with his first loss of the season, allowing three runs on five hits with three walks and a strikeout in six innings.

After allowing only three runs in 19 1/3 innings over his first three starts this season, Floyd has allowed eight runs in his last two outings (12 innings).

Still, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was pleased with his young righthander.

"Awesome, great game," Guillen said. "Even when he was a little off, he fought his way out. He threw the ball well. Just that pitch to Kubel - but besides that he continues to throw the ball real good."

That pitch to Kubel wound up in the upper deck in right field to give Bonser something he hasn't had much of this season - a lead.

After stranding four runners - three in scoring position - in the first three innings, Michael Cuddyer led off the fourth with a half-swing double that landed just inside the right field line. Two pitches later, the Twins led, 2-0.

"We'd still like to get more runs for (Bonser) since we haven't been doing too much for him in the past," Kubel said. "But if he keeps us in like he has been, it only takes a couple runs and it was good it held up tonight."

Minnesota did add another run in the fourth, as Delmon Young followed the homer with a single before stealing second base, advancing to third on an A.J. Pierzynski throwing error and scoring on Mike Lamb's sacrifice fly.

Bonser, who had gone 11 straight home starts without a win, said he hasn't let the lack of run support affect him.

"You don't know how many runs you're going to get," Bonser said. "If you get them great, if not, you've got to wait another five days. I was happy (with the home run), don't get me wrong, but I can't get too happy and the next thing you know I give up two runs. I've got to keep my composure out there."

Bonser did, getting White Sox hitters to swing at most everything he threw to them. He maintained his shutout through 6 2/3 innings before Joe Crede got Chicago on the board with a solo home run, his seventh of the season.

Bonser ultimately allowed six hits with one walk to go with his eight strikeouts in seven innings.

"They started trying to get after his fastball and you could see he went to the breaking ball and they were swinging fastball that's why his breaking ball was successful," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He set a nice tone with his fastball."

The White Sox threatened in the eighth inning when Nick Swisher led off with a single off Pat Neshek, but he was doubled off first base on Jim Thome's warning-track fly ball two batters later to end the inning.

"Sometimes you read it the wrong way," Guillen said. "I'm not going to criticize my players for trying to be aggressive on the basepaths. We have to because we don't have that much speed. I think a lot of people thought that ball was over (Young's) head."

Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth inning for his eighth save in as many chances.

Joe Mauer extended his hitting streak to a career high-tying 11 games with a triple in the first inning for the Twins, who got two hits apiece from Young and Cuddyer.

Chicago shortstop Orlando Cabrera snapped an 0-for-20 skid with a first-inning single and had a pair of hits in the game. Pierzynski also singled twice.