Twins sweep Chicago

Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press

Michael Cuddyer is greeted at home plate by teammate Matt Tolbert after scoring off a double by Brendan Harris during the second inning.

Minnesota pulled away with a three-run seventh to keep the heat on the Tigers in the AL Central Division race.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: September 24, 2009 - 7:08 AM

Print this story

TWINS 8, CHICAGO 6

Up next: 7:10 p.m. Friday at Kansas City • Kauffman Stadium • TV: FSN (1500-AM)

More from Twins

CHICAGO - Nick Punto finally found the answer for his hitting problems this season.

"Just tried to get some confidence and some momentum and get some hits to fall in," he said.

That's it? No wonder it's taken so long. Batting under .200 for a chunk of the season can make it hard to stay confident.

But Punto has found a groove. And the bottom of the Twins' batting order is no longer a pothole. He went 2-for-4 on Wednesday with a big two-run single in the seventh inning to help the Twins win 8-6 and sweep the White Sox in the three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field.

The Twins' first sweep in Chicago since July 24-26, 2006, kept the heat on the Detroit Tigers, who routed Cleveland 11-3 on Wednesday to maintain a 2 1/2-game lead in the American League Central.

With the Twins off today, their eyes will be on Cleveland to see if the Indians can avoid getting swept and allow the Twins to gain a half-game. Every fraction counts now, as the Twins try to stay close until Monday, when the teams open a four-game series in Comerica Park in what might be baseball's last real pennant race.

Punto was batting .198 on June 12 but kept working on shortening his swing. Over his past 21 games, he's batting .329 with nine RBI.

Punto drove in Brendan Harris with a double in the fourth that knocked White Sox starter Mark Buehrle (12-10) out of the game. Punto then stepped up in the seventh, right after a two-run homer by Jermaine Dye in the sixth got the White Sox within 5-4.

Jason Kubel led off with a walk. One out later, Delmon Young doubled to center to put runners on second and third. Pinch hitter Jose Morales was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Chicago reliever Carlos Torres retired Matt Tolbert on a pop-up, and fans roared when Torres got ahead 1-2 in the count on Punto. But Punto worked the count full, then lined a pitch to center, where Alex Rios dithered and watched the ball drop in for a two-run single that gave the Twins a 7-4 lead. Punto chased Torres from the game, too, with that hit.

Morales scored when Alexei Ramirez dropped a throw during Punto's steal of second to make it 8-4.

"This is the best baseball," Punto said, "when you're playing baseball in September that means something. That's all it's about."

Delmon Young was 3-for-5 and Brendan Harris added two doubles to fuel the Twins' 13-hit attack. Brian Duensing (5-1) got the victory despite giving up three earned runs on nine hits. He hasn't lost a game since entering the starting rotation on Aug. 22.

The Twins head to Kansas City for a three-game weekend series beginning Friday. The White Sox are off today and open a three-game series against Detroit on Friday.

The Twins hope the White Sox can help them out this weekend.

Dye appears ready. After going 58 at-bats without a homer, he hit a couple two-run homers against the Twins on Wednesday.

"We won our ballgames," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said, "but we also got a couple of guys hot so they can go play Detroit. I think Dye, we put him on the right track. Maybe he can take care of the Motown boys."

Recent Twins stories

Yankees top Phillies 7-3 for their 27th championship - September 24, 2009

Yankees top Phillies 7-3 for their 27th championship - Powered by Hideki Matsui's record-tying six RBI, New York won a record 27th World Series crown. More