Twins 6, White Sox 1
Jason Kubel and Orlando Hudson homered and Francisco Liriano turned in a solid effort as the Minnesota Twins moved back into first place in the American League Central with a 6-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.
Both teams entered tied going into the series, but the Twins left Chicago in first by one game after winning two of three in the set.
Liriano (11-7) gave up a run on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Chicago loaded the bases with no one out in the fifth, but failed to score. Alex Rios hit into a force play at the plate and Liriano struck out Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin to end the threat.
Hudson hit a solo homer in the first to give Minnesota a quick lead. Kubel's three-run homer came in the eighth with the Twins already leading 3-1 and put the game away. Both homers came off Gavin Floyd (8-9), who allowed six runs in 6 2/3 innings.
A.J. Pierzynski's RBI single tied the game in the first, but the White Sox didn't score again.
Jim Thome's sacrifice fly gave Minnesota the lead in the second. Floyd committed a balk in the third, scoring another run.