Chicago, IL – Adam Dunn went 3-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored and four RBI, and the Chicago White Sox scored nine runs in their final two at-bats to upend the Minnesota Twins, 11-4, at U.S. Cellular Field.
Dunn sparked a four-run seventh inning by smacking a game-tying two-run blast off Twins reliever Tyler Robertson.
Paul Konerko followed with his fourth hit, and Alex Rios doubled prior to Dayan Viciedo's go-ahead, two-run single against the ineffective Casey Fien (1-1).
Dunn added a two-run double in the eighth against an embattled Minnesota bullpen that failed to hold a lead behind Cole De Vries, who gave up a solo homer to Konerko and an unearned run in his six-inning start.
"The bullpen just had a little trouble tonight," De Vries said. "It was unfortunate because I thought we were going to take one."
Fellow rookie Jose Quintana was not as effective, allowing four runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, but Chicago still pulled even with the Tigers atop the AL Central with a second straight win.
"If someone's going to win this division and it's not us, we'll make them earn it," Konerko said.
The Twins, despite getting two homers and four RBI from Josh Willingham, fell for third time in four games and dropped to 4-14 in their last 18 games against their division foes.
Willingham took Quintana deep over the left-field wall for a three-run shot in the sixth, but Minnesota's 4-2 lead fell by the wayside when De Vries was pulled to start the seventh.
Robertson walked Kevin Youkilis on four pitches before facing Dunn, who went down and golfed one into the right-field seats for his 30th homer of the year.
Fien entered and did not retire any of the five batters he faced, which included Viciedo's bases-loaded single to left that brought home a pair.
Nate Jones (4-0) and Matt Thornton combined to throw a perfect eighth, and the hosts broke the game open in the bottom half.
Dunn, after doubling in Alejandro De Aza and Youkilis, scored on a single by Rios, who trotted home when Alexei Ramirez capped another big inning with his third home run of the season.
Dunn scored on Brian Dozier's throwing error in the home first, and Willingham tied it with a blast to straightaway center in the fourth.
Konerko hit a towering shot that cleared the left-field wall in the fifth.
Game Notes
This was the 12th multi-home run game of Willingham's career...De Vries scattered seven hits, issued no walks and struck out four in his outing...Dunn reached the 30-home run plateau for the eighth time in his career.
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