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Twins’ win leaves Central up for grabs

Jennifer Simonson, Star Tribune

Alexi Casilla (25) and Carlos Gomez celebrated the Twins' 3-2 victory over the White Sox.

The Twins are right where they wanted to be: playing for a sweep tonight against the White Sox and first place in the AL Central.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: September 25, 2008 - 7:29 AM

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TWINS 3, CHICAGO 2 Up next: 7:10 tonight • Metrodome • FSN (1500-AM)

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It makes little sense to fret now about the Twins having young starters, or an unreliable bullpen or an uncharacteristically shaky defense.

After the Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday night at the Metrodome -- before an announced crowd of 42,126 -- there is one undeniable fact: With four games left in the season, the Twins are one-half game behind the first-place White Sox in the American League Central.

That should be enough to energize them for tonight's series finale -- and to have fans on edge.

"I think if we take three, that might do something to them over there," Twins catcher Joe Mauer said. "We've got to do our job tomorrow."

If the Twins sweep Chicago, the division lead is theirs and up to them to protect with three games left against Kansas City.

After rolling to a 9-3 victory Tuesday, the Twins stiff-armed Chicago to win a game by their closest margin of victory since Aug. 27 at Seattle -- nearly a month ago. Offensively, they had nine hits -- all singles -- and drew four walks.

"They blooped us to death," White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzyn-ski said. "I don't think they hit one ball hard and got three runs. It's pretty funny, but you know, that's the way it goes. We had chances.

"But, you know what, we get them tomorrow, these first two games don't really matter. So our goal is to win tomorrow, and we'll move on."

It's the first time the Twins have been within a half-game of first place since Sept. 13.

"We have definitely put ourselves in a situation where the last series will mean something," said Twins closer Joe Nathan, who gave up a walk in the ninth but still earned his 39th save. "Right now we will enjoy this win, but once we come back tomorrow we will be ready for them."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire bypassed some of the usual suspects in the bullpen to get an inning of relief each from Craig Breslow, Boof Bonser and Jose Mijares in the late innings. The White Sox had just one hit after Twins starter Nick Blackburn was lifted after five innings.

In the eighth inning Mijares got Jim Thome to fly out to center, Paul Konerko to ground out to second and Ken Griffey Jr. to ground out to first. Mijares has played a key role this month, especially given that he pitched for less the half the season because of a broken elbow suffered during an offseason car accident -- and never pitched above Class AA.

"If that wasn't a wake-up call, I don't know what is," Gardenhire said. "That's pretty good courage."

The Twins took a 3-1 lead with two runs in the second inning -- on Denard Span's RBI single and when Carlos Gomez scored on a fielder's choice.

Griffey's 611th career homer got the White Sox within 3-2 in the fourth, but that's all the Sox would get off of Twins pitching.

It sets up the latest, biggest game of the season.

"We'll go out there and try to sweep a series, which is something we said we probably had to do," Gardenhire said. "So we'll see."

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