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Twins look to trim deficit further vs. White Sox

Sep 24, 2008 - 10:09 AM Chi White Sox (86-70) at Minnesota (85-72) 8:10 p.m. EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Twins have been hanging around all season. Now, they have a chance to pounce.

The Twins will attempt to trim their deficit in the American League Central to one-half game when they host the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

Minnesota needs a sweep of the three-game series to take over first place. The Twins started strong, with a convincing 9-3 win in the opener. Jason Kubel homered twice and tripled to lead the offensive charge and Scott Baker allowed one run in seven strong innings to earn the win.

"If we lose (Tuesday), that's almost the season right there," Kubel said after the game. "So this is one we really needed to have. It just sets up the rest of the series with the extra confidence we have coming off of (the win)."

"We put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs, so if you try to do too much or put too much stock into each individual game we're not going to help ourselves," Baker said. "I think the objective was to go out there and have some fun, and it was a lot of fun (on Tuesday)."

Mark Buehrle (14-11, 3.87 ERA) will get the start for the White Sox, looking to quiet the bats of Kubel and the Twins. Buehrle is 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in his last four starts.

The veteran lefthander has faced Minnesota three times this season, going 1-2 while allowing 13 runs in 18 2/3 frames.

The Twins will counter with rookie righthander Nick Blackburn (10-10, 4.15). The 26-year-old lasted 1 1/3 innings in his last start and has yielded 12 runs and 15 hits in his last 5 1/3 frames.

Blackburn has faced Chicago five times - four starts - and is 1-2 with a 5.63 ERA.