Wed Apr 30 16:14:47 2008

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Morneau, Twins squeak past ChiSox

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Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Justin Morneau's run-scoring double proved to be the difference as Minnesota edged Chicago, 4-3, to complete a sweep of a brief two-game set at the Metrodome.

Carlos Gomez was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI double for the Twins, who have won three of their past four games. Brendan Harris and Michael Cuddyer each drove in a run for Minnesota.

Nick Blackburn (2-1) surrendered three runs on eight hits in seven innings to earn the win. Dennys Reyes, Pat Neshek and Joe Nathan combined to close things out from there. Nathan earned his ninth save with a scoreless ninth.

Carlos Quentin homered for the White Sox, who have dropped three of their past five. Nick Swisher and Jim Thome added an RBI apiece.

Nick Masset, making just his second career start, allowed three runs on five hits in four innings. Ehren Wassermann (0-1) lost it, giving up a run in just one-third of an inning.

With the game deadlocked at three, the Twins scratched out a run against the Chicago bullpen in the seventh.

Gomez greeted Wasserman with an infield single and moved into scoring position on Harris' sacrifice bunt. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen then went to Boone Logan to match up with a pair of tough lefty hitters.

Logan did manage to get Joe Mauer on a ground ball to second, but Morneau rapped a ground-rule double into the gap in left-center to put Minnesota on top 4-3.

Chicago did threaten against Nathan in the ninth. Brian Anderson ripped a one- out single off Mike Lamb's glove at third and pinch hitter A.J. Pierzynski followed by drawing a walk. Nathan settled down from there, however, getting Pablo Ozuna, another pinch hitter, on a routine fly to center before punching out Swisher looking to end things.

The ChiSox took the early lead with a run in the first. Swisher worked a walk to open the game and came around to score on Thome's one-out double.

Minnesota quickly evened things in the home-half with a manufactured run. Gomez singled up the middle, moved to second on a Masset balk and advanced another 90 feet on a Harris sacrifice bunt, before crossing the plate on Cuddyer's two-out single to right.

Quentin put Chicago back on top in the fourth when he belted a Blackburn curve ball over the wall in left-center for a two-out solo homer, his seventh of the year.

The Twins bounced back again, jumping in front for the first time in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of runs. Delmon Young opened the frame with a walk and moved to second when Nick Punto ripped a one-out infield single off the shin of Masset. Gomez followed with a run-scoring double to left and Harris followed with an RBI grounder to short that made it a 3-2 game.

The Twins could have had more after Gomez swiped third. The speedy outfielder headed home after Toby Hall's throw got away from White Sox third baseman Joe Crede. But, the catcher recovered to block the plate beautifully and Crede was able to gun down Gomez on a bang-bang play.

The back-and-fourth action continued in the fifth as Chicago evened things at three. Juan Uribe slapped a one-out double to left and came around when Swisher came up with a two-out RBI single to right.

Game Notes

Quentin is tied with Crede for the AL home run lead...Masset's only other career start at the major league level came at Wrigley Field on May 20 of last season, and he gained the win in that game by throwing 5 2/3 innings of two- run ball against the crosstown rival Cubs...Blackburn had not given up a home run in 35 innings before Quentin took him deep in the fourth...After the game, the Twins announced hat they will reinstate infielder Adam Everett from the 15-day disabled list in time for Friday night's game against Detroit. To make room for Everett on the 25-man roster, the Twins optioned infielder Brian Buscher to Triple-A Rochester.