Out and over as Twins fall

CHICAGO — Of all the possible outcomes of Tuesday night's one-game playoff, the one the Twins would have most wanted to rule out is the one that occurred.

A.J. got in the way.

Former Twin A.J. Pierzynski, now catching for the White Sox, stood in the way of the Twins' first run, and of his former teammates' improbable attempt to win a championship.

When Pierzynski tagged out the Twins' Michael Cuddyer on a play at the plate in the top of the fifth inning, and held onto the ball despite Cuddyer's body block, Pierzynski made the most important play in the White Sox' 1-0 victory over the Twins, before a sellout crowd of 40,354 at U.S. Cellular Field.

Pierzynski, known for trash-talking and mental toughness, leapt to his feet, showed the ball to Cuddyer, thought about spiking it in the ground, then celebrated all the way back to the dugout. That play ensured that Jim Thome's leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh would win the game.

How did he hold onto the ball? "I have no idea," Pierzynski said. "I know my shoulder's going to hurt tomorrow."

The Twins figure to hurt all over after coming within two runs of their fifth American League Central Division title in seven years. The third-highest scoring team in franchise history couldn't solve White Sox left-hander John Danks.

The young left-hander allowed only two hits over eight innings while pitching on just three days of rest.

The White Sox asked their fans to wear all black to the stadium, calling it a "blackout," and the result was what looked like a convention of Grim Reapers.

Something took the life out of the Twins' bats. They advanced just one runner to third -- Cuddyer, who doubled to lead off the fifth.

With one out, third baseman Brendan Harris lifted a fly to short center. Ken Griffey Jr. unleashed a soft but accurate throw home. Pierzynski made a remarkable play, catching the throw on a short hop while moving into Cuddyer's way.

"I saw his arm extended," Cuddyer said. "I knew I had to hit him. I thought I knocked his arm off. It was a perfect throw, and a greater play by A.J.

"When I went up to the plate the next time, he said he didn't even know he had the ball. But it stuck."

Pierzynski is known for incessant trash talk. He has flipped his bat toward the Twins' dugout after hitting home runs, and has tried to step on the heel of Twins' first baseman Justin Morneau while running out ground balls.

Twins bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek once broke a bat over a desk while trying to keep Pierzynski's attention in a meeting. Pierzynski is known throughout baseball as the kind of guy who will drive you crazy, and the kind of guy you want on your side in a big game.

Isn't he the last guy a Twin would want to lose to in a big game? Cuddyer's laugh echoed in the Twins' quiet clubhouse. "Yeah, yeah, just because of the history," Cuddyer said.

Was he taunting you with the ball? "He said he wasn't sure he had it," Cuddyer said with a wry grin.

Did you believe that? Cuddyer chuckled again, saying, "That's what he said."

Twins starter Nick Blackburn told himself to remain "oblivious" to the pressure, and he pitched remarkably well in a ballpark -- and against a team -- known for home runs. One pitch, a hanging changeup to Thome, produced the game's only run. "He crushed it," Blackburn said.

Twins catcher Joe Mauer -- Pierzynski's replacement as the Twins' catcher -- clinched the American League batting title, going 0-for-3 to finish at .328. He has won two AL batting titles, the only two ever won by a catcher. He was not pleased.

"The main goal is to jump around and throw champagne on everybody," Mauer said "That's just frustrating we weren't able to do that."

The Twins dressed for their last team flight of the season under rolls of plastic meant to protect their lockers during a champagne celebration. The plastic proved more of a tease than a promise, while the White Sox ran around the outfield, screaming at their fans.

"Everyone knows how much I respect those guys and that organization," Pierzynski said of the Twins. "Next year is another year. But this year is ours."

Jim Souhan can be heard Sundays from 10 a.m.-noon on AM-1500 KSTP.