Timely burst of power saves Twins in Chicago

Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press

Minnesota's Matt Tolbert celebrates with Orlando Cabrera after Tolbert's home run off Chicago White Sox pitcher John Danks during the sixth inning tuesday.

Four homers stung Chicago after it got into the Twins bullpen early.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: September 23, 2009 - 12:23 PM

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TWINS 8, CHICAGO 6

Up next: 7:11 tonight at Chicago • TV: FSN (1500-AM)

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CHICAGO - The answer to your question is no. The Twins can't go to a four-man rotation over the final two weeks of the season.

That could mean two more outings for rookie righthander Jeff Manship. It could mean the return of lefthander Francisco Liriano. Twins manger Ron Gardenhire and pitching coach Rick Anderson might come up with someone else.

On Tuesday, the Twins were thankful their playoff push didn't suffer because of another poor start by Manship. They slugged four homers while beating the White Sox 8-6 at U.S. Cellular Field.

The team toasted Gardenhire's 700th victory moments after home runs by Orlando Cabrera, Michael Cuddyer, Matt Tolbert and Jason Kubel helped them go 8-1 over their past nine games. The offense bailed out Manship, who lasted 2 1/3 innings and could lose his spot in the rotation because of a 6.35 ERA. And it kept them within 2 1/2 games of the American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers.

"The only way we are going to [catch Detroit] is to pick each other up and get each other's back," said Cuddyer, who was 3-for-4 and hit his 29th homer. "Today, we got Manship's back."

Manship blew a 3-0 lead but the Twins overcame a 4-3 deficit as they kept pounding White Sox lefthander John Danks who, in six innings, gave up seven runs, eight hits and three walks.

The Twins will go for a sweep of the three-game series tonight when lefthander Brian Duensing faces Chicago lefty Mark Buehrle.

The Twins picked the right time for their first four-homer game since July 20. They scored three in the first but the White Sox got a run in the bottom half of the inning. Chicago then got five consecutive hits off Manship in the third to take a 4-3 lead.

Gardenhire said the enormity of the situation was too much for the rookie righthander. Manship didn't disagree.

"Pretty much everything I left up they hit hard," Manship said.

Liriano replaced Manship and gave up a run in 2 1/3 innings. But the report from catcher Joe Mauer was favorable. So Liriano could start Sunday against Kansas City and ace righthander Zack Greinke. That comes after the Twins set the starting rotation so everyone but Manship would start against Detroit in the showdown series next week.

"He might be an option," Gardenhire said. "We're going to look at everything. Options, no options. Whatever we decide."

If the Twins offense can continue to be productive without cleanup hitter Justin Morneau, who is out for the season after a stress fracture in his back was diagnosed last week, it might not matter who's pitching. The Twins have scored 15 runs in their past two games and, on Tuesday, were without leadoff hitter Denard Span, who was recovering after being hit in the head with a pitch Monday.

Cuddyer has been a big reason why the Twins have shaken off injures and believe they have a chance. In 15 games since Sept. 6, Cuddyer is batting .333 with five homers and 18 RBI.

"There's a lot of fire out there and it's fun" Gardenhire said, "It's really, really exciting. We know what we have to do. We have to keep winning games, winning series."

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