MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Delmon Young capped a four-run ninth inning with a two-run triple, lifting the Minnesota Twins to a 7-6, come-from-behind victory over the Chicago White Sox.
The Twins won three of four games in the series to move 1½ games of the first-place White Sox.
With Chicago closer Bobby Jenks (1-2) on the mound, Orlando Hudson walked in a 10-pitch at-bat and Joe Mauer walked on four straight pitches. Jason Kubel had an RBI single to left-center to make it 6-4. Michael Cuddyer singled in a run and end Jenks' day.
Sergio Santos walked Jason Repko to load the bases before Young hit a single to right-center. Alex Rios' throw to the infield rolled to the White Sox dugout allowing Cuddyer to score.
Brian Duensing (3-1) pitched four innings for the win.
Gordon Beckham had a career-high four hits and Carlos Quentin had a two-run double for Chicago.
Chicago got the leadoff man aboard in the third through sixth innings, scoring each time. In the sixth the White Sox scored four runs.
Rios and Paul Konerko singled in the sixth before Quentin hit a two-run double to the base of the wall in right-center for a 4-3 lead. Ramon Castro and Beckham added RBI singles later in the inning. Beckham was 11 for 14 in the four-game series.
Freddy Garcia allowed a season-high 11 hits in six innings for Chicago. Matt Thornton and J.J. Putz each pitched one inning of scoreless relief, before Jenks' meltdown.
Nick Blackburn was better than his past few starts for Minnesota, yet still allowed nine hits and four earned runs in five-plus innings. He also hit a batter and threw a wild pitch.
Blackburn was 5-0 with a 2.65 ERA in May, but since then the right-hander is 1-7 with a 9.88 ERA and 11 home runs allowed. He is 5-2 with a 4.15 ERA at home this year, compared to 2-6 with a 10.02 ERA on the road.
Young's two-run homer in the second gave the Twins a 2-0 lead. Beckham had an RBI single in the Chicago third, but Cuddyer's RBI triple made it 3-1 in the home half of the inning.
Juan Pierre had an RBI groundout in the fifth to get Chicago within one.
NOTES: Quentin left the game in the sixth inning with a bruised right hand. ... Minnesota SS J.J. Hardy was 7 for 15 in the series. He had six hits in his eight games before the All-Star break. ... Both team's next 13 games are against opponents out of the playoff chase. Chicago faces Seattle and Oakland; Minnesota plays Cleveland, Baltimore, Kansas City and Seattle. ... Putz's scoreless outing was his 24th straight, tying him with Shingo Takatsu (2004) for longest streak in club history.
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