Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - With the Chicago White Sox reeling, losing five
of six games and seeing their lead in the AL Central shrink to one game over
the Detroit Tigers, Alex Rios delivered a career performance at a perfect
time.
Rios knocked in a career-best six runs on two home runs and the White Sox
topped the Minnesota Twins, 6-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set.
Starting pitching had plagued the White Sox during their slump, as their
starters posted a 7.47 earned run average over their last seven starts heading
into Wednesday.
But, a night after Jose Quintana gave up seven runs in 1 1/3 innings, Jake
Peavy (10-10) held the Twins to one run on five hits and a walk to pick up his
first win since Aug. 1.
P.J. Walters (2-3), making his first start since June 13 because of a shoulder
injury, surrendered six runs on five hits and three walks in five-plus
innings.
Rios put the White Sox on the board in the first inning with his second career
grand slam. DeWayne Wise singled and Kevin Youkilis and Adam Dunn walked to
load the bases. After Paul Konerko popped out, Rios slammed a hanging curve
ball deep into the left-field stands.
The Twins picked up a run in the third inning after Matt Carson and Pedro
Florimon delivered back-to-back, one-out singles. Peavy plunked Ben Revere to
load the bases and Eduardo Escobar delivered a sacrifice fly.
Rios struck again in the sixth after Konerko worked a leadoff walk. Rios
crushed a 2-1 fastball over the center-field fence to give Chicago a 6-1 lead.
Chicago stranded the bases loaded in the seventh inning, but its bullpen was
able to close out the win.
Brett Myers and Matt Thornton pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning,
respectively, before Carson scored Ryan Doumit with a sacrifice fly against
Addison Reed in the ninth to cap the scoring.
Game Notes
Chicago has won nine of its last 10 home games ... The White Sox are 9-2 in
their last 11 games against Minnesota ... Chicago went 1-for-7 with runners in
scoring position and stranded seven ... Minnesota went 2-for-8 and left seven
runners on base.
The Sports Network