Twins 7, White Sox 3

The Twins get their 71st win and pulled within one game of the Wild Card lead, taking the series opener from the White Sox at the Dome, with Boof Bonser (2-4, 5.51 ERA) pitching 5.1 awesome innings. After three shutout innings, he gave up three runs on six hits (a 2-run shot by Jermaine Dye in the 4th inning and a Konerko RBI single in the fifth), walking two and striking out five.

Pat Neshek (3-0, 0.84 ERA) came in to strand two runners in the 6th and strike out two in the seventh getting the win, with Reyes getting Jim Thome for the last out of the inning. Jesse Crain pitched a solid eighth, striking out one before Matt Guerrier polished things off in the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning.

Freddy Garcia (11-7, 4.87 ERA) just wasn't himself Friday night, which is fine by me. He pitched 6.1 innings, giving up 10 hits and five earned runs. Minnesota came out swinging in the first when Justin Morneau (2 for 4) singled, bringing Punto around third for the 1-0 lead and his 105th RBI. Jason Kubel (1 for 4) doubled off Garcia to score Torii Hunter (2 for 3) and tie the game at 2. Then, Luis Castillo (0 for 4) scored Kubel on a sac fly. Twins up, 3-2. Chicago countered with Konerko's RBI single, but in the sixth Torii smashed a line drive homer just fair to left to regain the lead at 4-3.

After Garcia had enough of the piss-pounding, Neal Cotts came in and intentionally walked Michael Cuddyer (1 for 4) to put a man on first. Great idea, with Morneau on deck. Justin (RBI #106) singled on a soft ball to center, scoring Nick Punto (3 for 5). Then Cuddy scored on a fielding error by Brian Anderson, his first of the season (good timing). Finally in the eighth, Punto hit an RBI single, scoring Jason Tyner, who went 3 for 4 with a run scored in the game.

Brad Radke (12-8, 4.43 ERA) takes on Jon Garland (13-4, 4.98 ERA) and the White Sox Saturday evening at 6:10pm CT in the second game of the series.