Minnesota @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 2, 2014 ) Minnesota 6, Chi. White Sox 7

The Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox took turns going through some bullpen issues in the second game of the season, with the White Sox getting the better of things in the end. Chicago will attempt a three-game sweep of the opening set when it hosts the Twins in the series finale on Thursday. The White Sox are getting plenty of offense from Alexei Ramirez, who recorded a pair of hits in each of the first two games.

The Twins took a 6-4 lead into the ninth on Wednesday only to have closer Glen Perkins blow his first save opportunity of the season. Samuel Deduno got a chance in the 11th and was called for a balk before a pair of wild pitches allowed Leury Garcia to cross with the game-winning run. Chicago received strong starting pitching in each of the first two games but had the middle relief let the team down on Wednesday, when Scott Downs and Nate Jones combined to allow three runs without recording an out.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Phil Hughes (2013: 4-14, 5.19 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Jose Quintana (2013: 9-7, 3.51)

Hughes was part of Minnesota’s offseason overhaul, signing a three-year, $24 million deal with the team in hopes that a change of scenery will get him back to the 18-game winner he was in 2010. The 27-year-old struggled to keep the ball in the yard the past two seasons, surrendering a total of 59 home runs in 336 innings while dealing with the cozy dimensions of the new Yankee Stadium. Hughes went 2-1 with a 1.61 ERA in four starts against Chicago over the previous three seasons.

The White Sox rewarded Quintana with a five-year contract extension over the winter and are hoping his win total will increase with some added run support. The 25-year-old Colombia native received less than four runs of support in 2013 and picked up only two wins in his last eight games despite six quality starts in that span. Quintana went 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA in three starts against Minnesota last season while striking out 18 in 17 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins C Josmil Pinto is expected to get his first start of the season on Thursday after Kurt Suzuki started the first two contests.

2. Cuban import Jose Abreu is 3-for-8 with two RBIs and a pair of walks in his first two major league games for Chicago.

3. Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire is two wins shy of 1,000 for his career.

PREDICTION: Twins 4, White Sox 3