Remember the reason the Twins went out and signed more starting pitchers this past offseason? They were out of games early all season long last year and figured if they had capable pitching for six innings, things would be different.
But the Twins have given up 18 first-inning runs this season, the second-most in baseball? I would guess that, why they still are giving up early runs they are not getting blown out early and have been able to come back and win a few.

Aaron Hicks has drawn five walks over his last three games.

The Twins are 4-0 in one-run games and are tied with the White Sox for most one-run wins in the American League.

Joe Mauer has a .360 career average in 59 games at U.S. Cellular Field.

Joe Mauer is 11 for his last 15.

Joe Mauer is batting .577 over his last six games with a .621 on base percentage.

Joe Mauer is good at baseball.

The Twins have announced their minor league player of the week: Class A Fort Myers third baseman Miguel Sano. Sano batted .360 (9-for-25) with three home runs, 11 RBI and three walks. He enters today batting .377 with five doubles, five home runs and 15 RBI this season.

Will check in later with lineups and updates. The sun actually felt warm this morning when you were outside...and the wind wasn't blowing. That's progress. Chicagoans have been muttering all weekend about how crummy their weather has been. I have no sympathy for them.

Lineups are not in the pressbox yet, but Gardy just said on his pre-game show that Jamey Carroll is leading off (he has good numbers against Floyd), Arcia is in right (Parmelee was hit on the elbow by a pitch yesterday), Mauer is at DH and Escobar is in the lineup.

UPDATE: Chris Parmelee is a available off the bench after getting hit on the elbow with a pitch Saturday. ``The doctor doesn't think it's broken, and I don't either," he said with a grin.

Twins (7-7)

1. Jamey Carroll, 2B
2. Joe Mauer, DH
3. Josh Wilingham, Lf
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Ryan Doumit, C
6. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
7. Oswaldo Arcia, RF
8. Aaron Hicks, CF
9. Eduardo Escobar, SS

Pitching: Scott Diamond, LHP

White Sox (7-10)

1. Alejandro De Aza, LF
2. Jeff Keppinger, 2B
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Paul Konerko, 1B
5. Adam Dunn, DH
6. Alexei Ramirez, SS
7. Conor Gillaspie, 3B
8. Tyler Flowers, C
9. DeWayne Wise, CF

Pitching: Gavin Floyd, RHP