ChiSox bounce back from rough road trip with win over Twins
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Chicago White Sox are glad to be back home.
Following a rough 1-6 road trip, Gordon Beckham tallied two hits, including a two-run homer, and three RBI as the White Sox won their eighth straight home game in a 4-2 triumph over the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game set.
Making his first major-league start, Hector Santiago (3-1) fanned six and surrendered a run on three hits and three walks over five-plus innings for Chicago, which regained sole possession of first place in the AL Central after the Detroit Tigers lost to the Cleveland Indians on Monday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the White Sox over the weekend.
Jamey Carroll smacked his first round-tripper as a Twin, while Samuel Deduno (5-3) allowed two runs on six hits and three walks over six innings for Minnesota, which has dropped five of its last eight contests.
"We had some opportunities, we just can't come up with a big hit right now," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The White Sox struck first with a pair of runs in the second. A.J. Pierzynski led off with a single and three batters later, Beckham laced a bullet into the seats in left field.
Carroll cracked a one-out solo shot over the wall in left field to cut the deficit in half in the fifth, but Chicago got the run back in the seventh.
Kevin Youkilis hit a one-out double to left field and after Adam Dunn flied out, Paul Konerko brought Youkilis home with a single back up the middle, which gave Chicago a 3-1 edge.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Justin Morneau's RBI single to center field again brought the Twins within a run in the eighth, but the White Sox countered in the home half when Beckham poked an RBI single into left field, which gave the hosts a 4-2 advantage.
Addison Reed tossed a scoreless ninth to notch his 25th save of the season.
"You want to put yourself in position in September to play meaningful games and we're doing that," said Dunn.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
The White Sox have won 22 of their last 27 home tilts ... Chicago was outscored 32-21 during its seven-game road trip ... Chicago was 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, while Minnesota finished 1-for-9.