Twins, White Sox both seek first victory of season

(SportsNetwork.com) - Something has to give on Friday when the Minnesota Twins pay a visit to the Chicago White Sox in a matchup of two teams still searching for their first win of the season.

Minnesota, though, has been losing in nearly historic fashion, as it was shut out through the first two games and went 24 innings before finally scoring its lone run of the season in Thursday's 10-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

The drought, which was a franchise worst, fell two innings shy of matching the all-time record held by the 1943 St. Louis Cardinals. In fact, when Joe Mauer crossed the plate for Minnesota, it marked the first time this season that a Twins base runner had reached third base.

And as impotent as the bats have been, the Twins' starters haven't fared much better, posting an 11.37 ERA in the three games. Not to mention the fact that game two starter Ricky Nolasco is back in Minnesota getting an MRI for a sore elbow.

Tommy Milone, though, will try to change that on Friday, as he attempts to bounce back from a miserable first impression with the Twins. Milone appeared in six games (5 starts) for Minnesota last season and was 0-1 with a 7.05 ERA.

However, he showed enough this spring to beat out Mike Pelfrey and Trevor May to secure the fifth starter spot.

As for Chicago, the White Sox will play at home for the first time after being mauled this week by the Kansas City Royals, losing all three games to the defending American League champions, culminating with a 4-1 loss on Thursday.

"They play the game the right way," Sox center fielder Adam Eaton said. "They play the game hard. They're stealing bags, (Eric) Hosmer's stealing bags, you've got (Alex) Rios stealing bags, guys bunting guys over, playing great defense, making plays behind the guys. Lorenzo Cain making plays, (Salvador) Perez is throwing guys out. They've got a solid team."

John Danks (0-1) surrendered four runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings to suffer his first loss in 17 career starts against Kansas City.

"You have to stay with it," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. "We've had a three-game losing streak before so you push it aside as the beginning of the year and get that out of the way."

Now winless through three games for the first time since 2003, the White Sox will turn to righty Hector Noesi on Friday. Noesi pitched for three teams last season, but spent the majority of his time with the White Sox and went 8-11 with a 4.39 ERA.

Minnesota won 10 of its 19 matchups with the White Sox in 2014.