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Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 5, Minnesota 2

Despite their position in the standings, the Minnesota Twins have shown a lot of grit, and that was on display Sunday in the comeback victory over Tampa Bay. The Twins look to carry over that emotion when they begin a seven-game road trip at the struggling Chicago White Sox on Monday. Catcher Josmil Pinto is one of the young players Minnesota is giving an opportunity down the stretch, and he has responded by hitting .405 in 11 games with two homers and seven RBIs.

Trevor Plouffe is batting .368 in September for the Twins, who are 10-6 against the White Sox this season. Chicago has lost six straight and 15 of its last 17 after getting swept in a four-game series by Cleveland. Slugger Adam Dunn has recorded seven of his 31 homers and 14 of his 82 RBIs in 2013 against the Twins.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), CSN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Liam Hendriks (1-2, 5.25 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Erik Johnson (0-2, 4.66)

Hendriks has allowed three or fewer earned runs in five of seven starts but is averaging only a little over five innings. The Australian gave up two runs over 6 1/3 frames without receiving a decision against the White Sox on Aug. 9. Alexei Ramirez is 3-for-9 with a homer versus Hendriks, who is 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA in three career starts against the White Sox.

Johnson surrendered 11 runs in his first two career starts against the New York Yankees and Detroit, but six were unearned. The 23-year-old, who was 12-3 with a 1.93 ERA between Triple-A and Double-A this season, has given up 14 hits in 9 2/3 innings in the majors. Johnson was a second-round pick of the White Sox in 2011.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins All-Star C Joe Mauer, out since Aug. 9 with a concussion, did not make the trip.

2. Chicago 1B/DH Paul Konerko was off Sunday after going 9-for-28 with five RBIs over his previous eight games.

3. Minnesota has committed an error in five straight contests for the first time since Sept. 3-8, 2012.

PREDICTION: Twins 6, White Sox 4