Chicago @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 8, Minnesota 7
The Chicago White Sox look to put some more distance between themselves and the Minnesota Twins when they resume their four-game series Friday at Target Field.
Chicago has won nine straight and is playing inspired baseball. The White Sox are 26-5 in their last 31 games and, after looking up at the Twins for much of the early part of the season, the White Sox now lead Minnesota by 4 1/2 games in the American League Central.
The White Sox won the series opener on Thursday 8-7 as John Danks overcame one really bad inning and Gordon Beckham had a home run and two RBIs. Juan Pierre added three hits and an RBI and Alex Rios added two hits and two RBIs for the White Sox.
There is a long way to go this season, but it already has been quite a ride for Chicago. The White Sox trailed in the AL Central standings by 9 1/2 games at one point but somehow found a way to get hot and entered the All-Star break with a half-game lead over the Detroit Tigers.
Chicago, which improved to 17-17 in the division with Thursday's win, has been solid on the road, sporting a 23-19 record outside the Windy City.
Gavin Floyd (5-7, 4.20 ERA) gets the start for the White Sox and will be looking to win his fourth straight start. Floyd has not lost since June 13, a 1-0 setback to the cross-town rival Chicago Cubs. After two no-decisions he started his recent winning streak.
Floyd is 2-5 in eight road starts this season and is 4-4 with a 4.22 ERA in nine career starts against Minnesota.
The Twins are reeling and have lost seven of their last 10 games.
At just 6-14 in its last 20, Minnesota has its work cut out for it and looks like it will have to rebound without All-Star first baseman Justin Morneau.
Morneau missed his fourth straight game on Thursday and will be out for the remainder of this series due to the effects of a concussion. There is a chance that the Twins will place Morneau on the disabled list soon if he can not return to the field.
Looking for a spark, the Twins send left-hander Francisco Liriano to the mound.
Liriano (6-7, 3.86) is 0-4 in his last five starts and has not won since topping the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on June 11. In his last start on July 9, Liriano lasted just 1 2/3 innings in a loss to the Tigers, allowing a career-high seven runs on six hits and two walks.