Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - J.B. Shuck's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted Chicago to a 3-2 decision over Minnesota on Friday.
Gordon Beckham worked a walk as a pinch hitter against Aaron Thompson (0-1) with one out in the frame, went to third on an Alexei Ramirez hit off Michael Tonkin and scored on Shuck's fly to center.
David Robertson turned in a perfect ninth to earn his ninth save. Jeff Samardzija (4-2) worked the first eight, allowing two runs on three hits with nine strikeouts.
"He just seemed to get stronger as he went through it," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Samardzija.
Ramirez and Shuck combined for five of the White Sox's nine hits, while Geovany Soto added an early two-run double.
Joe Mauer and Trevor Plouffe knocked in a run each for the Twins, while starter Phil Hughes yielded eight hits and two runs over his seven-inning stint.
"The curveball is something that I have had to go to," Hughes said. "Teams we faced get scouting reports and know I like to throw my fastball a lot."
Minnesota jumped out to a lead in the first, on a Mauer RBI double and sacrifice fly by Plouffe.
Chicago had runners on the corners and two down in the second but came up empty after Carlos Sanchez lined out to center.
The hosts evened things in the fourth on Soto's two-run double. Adam LaRoche began the frame by working a walk, moved up on a passed ball, then went to third on Shuck's two-out infield hit prior to scoring.
Game Notes
Chicago had dropped three in a row ... Samardzija set down 17 straight Twins batters -- a season high from a White Sox starter -- from a leadoff walk issued to Eduardo Escobar in the second until a two-out hit from Escobar in the seventh ... The former Notre Dame receiver threw 118 pitches, 83 for strikes ... Due to Samardzija's and Robertson's mastery, the Twins only had two runners in scoring position all night and 24 of the final 25 Minnesota batters were retired.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.