Minneapolis, MN – Alejandro De Aza drove home the game-winner in the eighth as the Chicago White Sox edged the Minnesota Twins, 3-2, in the finale of a three-game set.
De Aza finished the game 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Tyler Flowers was 2- for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for the White Sox, who took the last two games of the set after dropping the opener. Adam Dunn drove in the other run.
Jake Peavy (9-7) won his second straight start as he gave up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts over eight innings.
"This is a nice way to go into an off day because we have some big games coming up," said Peavy. "I felt pretty good out there today and hopefully can carry it through on my next start."
Danny Valencia hit a solo home run and Joe Mauer drove in the other run for the Twins, who had won four straight prior to losing the final two games of the series.
Scott Diamond (9-5) pitched well in the loss, giving up three runs on eight hits with no walks and three strikeouts in 7 1/3 frames.
"We're just trying to compete and hang in with a lot of these ball games and see if we can pull it out in the end," said Diamond. "We didn't pull it out today, but we play with a lot of heart here."
With the score tied in the eighth, the White Sox went ahead. Flowers led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. A groundout by Orlando Hudson allowed Flowers to move to third. De Aza then hit a line drive back to the mound and it went off Diamond's right leg, letting Flowers score for a 3-2 lead.
Diamond left the game and Jared Burton retired the next two batters.
"I got hit on the inner thigh of my right leg. It caught most of the meat but it's nothing serious. It's just a scrape and shouldn't be a problem," Diamond said.
Peavy stranded runners on first and third in the eighth when he got Mauer to pop out and end the frame, while Addison Reed left men on second and third in the ninth after inducing a game-ending fly out by Brian Dozier for his 18th save of the season.
The White Sox got on the board in the first as De Aza led off with a single, stole second, moved to third on a Kevin Youkilis groundout and came home on Dunn's sac fly.
Minnesota answered in the bottom of the frame. Ben Revere doubled with one out and moved to third on a bad pickoff throw from Peavy. Mauer then grounded out and Revere scored to tie the game.
Valencia's second homer of the year with two outs in the second gave the Twins a 2-1 lead.
Chicago was able to tie the game in the fifth. Alex Rios singled to start the frame and moved to third two batters later on Dayan Viciedo's single. Flowers then grounded out as Rios scored to make it a 2-2 game.
Game Notes
Revere extended his career-high hitting streak to 15 games. He is 22-for-62 during his run...Minnesota's Denard Span went 1-for-4 to extend his hit streak to 10 games. He is batting 19-for-41 during his streak...Chicago has won nine of the 12 games against Minnesota this season...Peavy is 4-3 in nine starts against the Twins...Chicago has off on Thursday and will host the Angels for three games starting on Friday...Minnesota begins a four-game set in Boston on Thursday.
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